Case 

PRESENTED  TO  THE 


TRINITY  COLLEGE 
LIBRARY 

DURHAM,  NORTH  CAROLINA 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


ENGLISH 


MEN  OF  SCIENCE 


THEIR  NATURE  AND  NURTURE. 


t 


FRANCIS  GALTON,  F.  R.  S., 

AUTHOR  OF  “ HEREDITARY  GENIUS,”  ETC 


NEW  YORK: 

D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY 

549  & 551  BROADWAY. 

1875. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016  with  funding  from 
Duke  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/englishmenofscie01galt 


PREFACE. 


I undertook  the  inquiry  of  which  this  volume  is  the 
result,  after  reading  the  recent  work  of  M.  de  Candolle,1 
in  which  he  analyzes  the  salient  events  in  the  history  of 
two  hundred  scientific  men  who  have  lived  during  the 
past  two  centuries,  deducing  therefrom  many  curious 
conclusions  which  well  repay  the  attention  of  thought- 
ful readers.  It  so  happened  that  I myself  had  been 
leisurely  engaged  on  a parallel  but  more  extended  in- 
vestigation— namely,  as  regards  men  of  ability  of  all 
descriptions,  with  the  view  of  supplementing  at  some 

1 “ Histoire  des  Sciences  et  des  Savants  depuis  deux  Siecles.” 
Par  Alphonse  de  Candolle.  Corr.  Inst.  Acad.  Sc.  de  Paris,  etc. 
Geneve,  1873. 


VI 


PREFACE. 


future  time  my  work  on  “ Hereditary  Genius.”  The 
object  of  that  book  was  to  assert  the  claims  of  one  of 
what  may  be  called  the  “ preefficients  ” 1 2 of  eminent 
men,  the  importance  of  which  had  been  previously 
overlooked  ; and  I had  yet  to  work  out  more  fully  its 
relative  efficacy,  as  compared  with  those  of  education, 
tradition,  fortune,  opportunity,  and  much  else.  It  was 
therefore  with  no  ordinary  interest  that  I studied  M. 
de  Candolle’s  work,  finding  in  it  many  new  ideas  and 
much  confirmation  of  my  own  opinions ; also  not  a 
little  criticism  (supported,  as  I conceive,  by  very  im- 
perfect biographical  evidence) 3 of  my  published  views 
on  heredity.  I thought  it  best  to  test  the  value  of  this 
dissent  at  once,  by  limiting  my  first  publication  to  the 
same  field  as  that  on  which  M.  de  Candolle  had  worked 
— namely,  to  the  history  of  men  of  science,  and  to 
investigate  their  sociology  from  wholly  new,  ample, 
and  trustworthy  materials.  This  I have  done  in  the 
present  volume ; and  I am  confident  that  one  effect  of 
the  evidence  here  collected  will  be  to  strengthen  the 

1 Or,  “ all  that  has  gone  to  the  making  of.”  The  word  was  sug- 
gested to  me. 

2 Reference  may  be  made  to  a short  review  by  me  of  M.  de  Can- 

dolle's work,  in  the  Fortnightly  Review,  March,  1ST3. 


PREFA  CE. 


vii 

utmost  claims  I ever  made  for  the  recognition  of  the 
importance  of  hereditary  influence. 

A few  of  my  results,  and  some  of  the  evidence  on 
which  they  were  based,  were  given  by  me  at  a Friday 
evening  lecture,  February,  1874,  before  the  Royal  In- 
stitution. I have  incorporated  parts  of  that  lecture  into 
this  volume,  with  emendations  and  large  additions. 

It  had  been  my  wish  to  work  up  the  materials  I 
possess  with  much  minuteness  ; but  some  months  of 
careful  labor  made  it  clear  to  me  that  they  were  not 
sufficient  to  bear  a more  strict  or  elaborate  treatment 
than  I have  now  given  to  them. 

The  pleasant  duty  remains  of  acknowledging  a debt 
to  my  friend,  Mr.  Herbert  Spencer,  for  many  helpful 
suggestions,  and  for  his  encouragement  when  I was  plan- 
ning this  work ; and  to  reiterate  my  deep  sense  of 
gratitude  to  numerous  correspondents,  which  I have  ex- 
pressed elsewhere  in  the  following  pages. 

I may  add,  that  four  of  the  scientific  men  who  re- 
plied to  my  questions  have  passed  away  since  I began 
to  write.  Of  these,  two  had  sent  me  complete  returns, 
namely,  Prof.  Phillips,  the  geologist,  and  Sir  William 
Fairbairn,  the  engineer.  As  regards  the  other  two — 
Sir  Henry  Holland,  the  physician,  had  published  his 


Ylll 


PREFACE. 


autobiography,  but  he  gave  me  much  help  colloquially, 
and  promised  more ; and  Sir  Edmund,  better  known  as 
Count  Strzelecki,  the  Australian  traveler  and  meteor- 
ologist, furnished  me  with  very  suggestive  information, 
but  too  incomplete  for  statistical  use. 

Francis  Galton. 

42  Rutland  Gate,  November , 1874. 

P.  S. — I have  to  apologize  for  some  faults  of  style 
in  the  earlier  pages,  due  to  my  not  having  had  as  full 
an  opportunity  as  I had  counted  upon  of  correcting  that 
portion  of  the  press. 

After  I had  sent  the  above  to  the  printer,  a friend 
happened  to  point  out  to  me  the  following  passage  in 
the  “ Sartor  Resartus  ” of  Carlyle  (book  ii.,  eh.  2).  It 
expresses  sentiments  so  nearly  akin  to  those  which  in- 
duced me  to  write  this  book,  that  I am  glad  to  quote  it  : 

“ It  is  maintained  by  Helvetius  and  his  set,  that  an  infant 
of  genius  is  quite  the  same  as  any  other  infant,  only  that  cer- 
tain surprisingly  favorable  influences  accompany  him  through 
life,  especially  through  childhood,  and  expand  him,  while  oth- 
ers lie  close  folded,  and  continue  dunces.  . . . "With  which 
opinion,  cries  Teufelsdrockh,  ‘ I should  as  soon  agree  as  with 


PREFACE. 


IX 


this  other — that  an  acorn  might,  by  favorable  or  unfavorable 
influences  of  soil  and  climate,  be  nursed  into  a cabbage,  or  the 
cabbage-seed  into  an  oak.  Nevertheless,’  continues  he,  ‘ I,  too, 
acknowledge  the  all-but  omnipotence  of  early  culture  and 
nurture : hereby  we  have  either  a doddered  dwarf  bush,  or  a 
high-towering,  wide-shadowing  tree;  either  a sick  yellow 
cabbage  or  an  edible  luxuriant  green  one.  Of  a truth,  it  is 
the  duty  of  all  men,  especially  of  all  philosophers,  to  note 
down  with  accuracy  the  characteristic  circumstances  of  their 
education,  what  furthered,  what  hindered,  what  in  any  way 
modified  it.  . . 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

ANTECEDENTS. 

Object  of  book,  1 ; Definition  of  “ Han  of  Science,”  2 ; Data,  8 ; 
Nature  and  nurture,  9 ; Race  and  birthplace,  12  ; Occupation 
of  parents  and  position  in  life,  16  ; Physical  peculiarities  of  par- 
ents, 20  ; Primogeniture,  etc.,  25  ; Fertility,  27  ; Heredity,  29. 
Pedigrees,  viz. : Alderson,  Si ; Bentham,  32 ; Carpenter,  33  ; 
Darwin,  34  ; Dawson  Turner,  37  ; Harcourt,  38  ; Hill,  39  ; La- 
trobe,  41  ; Playfair,  42  ; Rosco&,  44  ; Strachey,  45  ; Taylors  of 
Ongar,  45 ; Wedgwood,  47.  Statistical  results,  48 ; grand- 
fathers and  uncles  of  scientific  men,  49  ; brothers  and  male 
cousins,  51  ; Family  characteristics,  52  ; Distribution  of  ability 
in  gifted  families,  53  ; Relative  influence  of  paternal  and  ma- 
ternal lines,  54. 


CHAPTER  II. 

QUALITIES. 


Preliminary,  58 ; Energy,  56  ; viz. : much  above  average,  59 ; 
below  average,  73.  Size  of  head,  74 ; Health,  75  ; of  parents, 


CONTENTS. 


xii 


77 ; Perseverance,  IS ; Impulsiveness,  79  ; Practical  business 
habits,  79  ; Memory,  81  ; viz.,  good  verbal,  82  ; good  for  facts 
and  figures,  84  ; for  form,  86  ; good,  but  no  particulars  given, 
88 ; bad,  91.  Independence  of  character,  92 ; ditto  of  the 
parents,  92  ; small  religious  sects,  93  ; Mechanical  aptitudes,  94 ; 
Religious  bias,  96  ; definition  of  religion,  96;  religious  senti- 
ment weak,  accompanied  with  skepticism,  98  ; intellectual  inter- 
est in  religious  topics,  98  ; dogmatic  interest,  99  ; religious  bias, 
99  ; ditto  with  intellectual  skepticism,  101.  Effect  of  creed  on 
research,  101 ; viz.,  no  deterrent  effect,  102  ; no  dread  of  in- 
quiry, 102 ; religion  and  science  have  different  spheres,  103  ; 
liberality  of  early  teaching,  103  ; have  early  abandoned  creeds, 
104 ; creed  has  had  good  effect  on  research,  104 ; has  had 
some  deterrent  effect,  140.  Truthfulness,  106. 


CHAPTER  III. 

ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE. 

Preliminary,  108;  Extracts  at  length,  viz.:  physics,  112;  mathe- 
matics, 117;  chemistry,  118;  geology,  121;  zoology,  124;  bot- 
any, 132;  medicine,  136;  statistics,  137;  mechanics,  139. 
Analysis  of  replies,  viz. : tastes  strongly  innate,  140  ; decidedly 
not  innate,  143  ; tastes  bearing  remotely  on  science,  146  ; innate 
tastes  not  very  hereditary,  147  ; fortunate  accidents,  148  ; indi- 
rect motives  or  opportunities,  160;  professional  duties,  161; 
encouragement  at  home,  164 ; influence  and  encouragement  of 
friends,  158 ; ditto  of  tutors,  161  ; Scotch  and  English  system 
of  tuition,  161  ; travel  in  distant  parts,  164 ; unelassed  re- 
siduum, 166 ; Summary,  167 ; Deep  movements  in  national 
life,  170  ; Waste  of  powers,  171  ; Partial  failures,  173  ; Genius, 
176. 


CONTENTS. 


xiii 


CHAPTER  IV. 

EDUCATION. 

Preliminary,  176 ; Merits  in  education,  viz. : generally  praised, 
178 ; variety  of  subjects,  181 ; a little  science  at  school'  182 , 
simple  things  well  taught,  182;  liberty  and  leisure,  183;  home 
teaching  and  encouragement,  183 ; Merits  and  demerits  bal- 
anced, 184 ; Demerits  in  education,  viz. : narrow  education, 
185;  want  of  system  and  bad  teaching,  188;  unclassed,  189; 
Summary,  189;  Interpretation  of  educational  needs,  191;  Con- 
clusion, 193. 


APPENDIX. 


List  of  questions  sent  to  scientific  men,  197. 


ENGLISH  MEN. OF  SCIENCE. 


CHAPTER  I . 

ANTECEDENTS. 

Object  of  Book — Definition  of  Man  of  Science — Data — Nature  and 
Nurture — Eace  and  Birthplace — Occupation  of  Parents  and  Posi- 
tion in  Life — Physical  Peculiarities  of  Parents — Primogeniture, 
etc. — Fertility — Heredity — Pedigrees — Statistical  Results. 

The  intent  of  this  book  is  to  supply  what  may  be 
termed  a Natural  History  of  the  English  Men  of  Sci- 
ence of  the  present  day.  It  will  describe  their  earliest 
antecedents,  including  the  hereditary  influences,  the  hi-* 
born  qualities  of  their  mind  and  body,  the  causes  that 
first  induced  them  to  pursue  science,  the  education  they 
received  and  their  opinions  on  its  merits.  The  advan- 
tages are  great  of  confining  the  investigation  to  men  of 
our  own  period  and  nation.  Our  knowledge  of  them  is 
more  complete,  and,  where  deficient,  it  may  be  supple- 
mented by  further  inquiry.  They  are  subject  to  a mod- 


2 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


erate  range  of  those  influences  which  have  the  largest 
disturbing  power,  and  are  therefore  well  fitted  for  statis- 
tical investigation  ; lastly,  the  results  we  may  obtain  are 
of  direct  practical  interest.  The  inquiry  is  a compli- 
cated one  at  the  best ; it  is  advantageous  not  to  compli- 
cate it  further  by  dealing  with  notabilities  whose  histo- 
ries are  seldom  autobiographical,  never  complete  and 
not  always  very  accurate ; and  who  lived  under  the 
varied  and  imperfectly  appreciated  conditions  of  Euro- 
pean life,  in  several  countries,  at  numerous  periods 
during  many  different  centuries. 

Definition  of  “ Man  of  Science .” — I do  not  attempt 
to  define  a “ scientific  man,”  because  no  frontier  line  or 
definition  exists,  which  separates  any  group  of  individu- 
als from  the  rest  of  their  species.  Natural  groups  have 
nuclei,  but  no  outlines ; they  blend  on  every  side  with 
other  systems  whose  nuclei  have  alien  characters.  A 
naturalist  must  construct  his  picture  of  Nature  on  the 
same  principle  that  an  engraver  in  mezzotint  proceeds 
on  his  plate,  beginning  with  the  principal  lights  as  so 
many  different  points  of  departure,  and  working  out- 
ward from  each  of  them  until  the  intervening  spaces 
are  covered.  Some  definition  of  an  ideal  scientific  man 
might  possibly  be  given  and  accepted,  but  who  is  to 
decide  in  each  case  whether  particular  individuals  fall 
within  the  definition  1 It  seems  to  me  the  best  way  to 
take  the  verdict  of  the  scientific  world  as  expressed  in 
definite  language.  It  may  be  over-lenient  in  some  cases. 


ANTECEDENTS. 


3 


in  others  it  may  never  have  been  uttered,  but  on  the 
whole  it  appears  more  satisfactory  than  any  other  ver- 
dict which  exists  or  is  attainable.  To  have  been  elected 
a Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society  since  the  reform  in  the 
mode  of  election,  introduced  by  Mr.  Justice  Grove 
nearly  thirty  years  ago,  is  a real  assay  of  scientific 
merit.  Owing  to  various  reasons,  many  excellent  men 
of  science  of  mature  ages  may  not  be  Fellows,  but 
those  who  bear  that  title  cannot  but  be  considered  in 
some  degree  as  entitled  to  the  epithet  of  “ scientific.”  I 
therefore  look  upon  this  fellowship  as  a “ pass  examina- 
tion,” so  to  speak,  and  from  among  the  Fellows  of  the 
Royal  Society  I select  those  who  have  yet  further  quali- 
fications. One  of  these  is  the  fact  of  having  earned  a 
medal  for  scientific  work  ; another,  of  having  presided 
over  a learned  Society,  or  a section  of  the  British  Asso- 
ciation ; another,  of  having  been  elected  on  the  council 
of  the  Royal  Society ; another,'  of  being  professor  at 
some  important  college  or  university.  These  and  a few 
other  similar  signs  of  being  appreciated  by  contempo- 
rary men  of  science,  are  the  qualifications  for  which  I 
have  looked  in  selecting  my  list  of  typical  scientific  men. 
I have  only  deviated  from  these  technical  rules  in  two  or 
three  cases,  where  there  appeared  good  reason  for  their 
relaxation  and  where  the  returns  appeared  likely  to  be 
of  peculiar  interest.  On  these  principles  I drew  up  a 
list  of  ISO  men ; most  of  them  were  qualified  on  more 
than  one  count,  and  many  on  several  counts.  Also,  the 


4 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


list  appeared  nearly  exhaustive  in  respect  to  those  men 
of  mature  age  'who  live  in  or  near  London,  since  other 
private  tests  suggested  few  additions.  As  two  of  these 
tests  have  been  proposed  by  several  correspondents,  it 
may  be  well  to  describe  them.  The  one  is  the  election 
of  individuals,  on  account  of  their  scientific  eminence,  to 
a certain  well-known  literary  and  scientific  club,  the 
name  of  which  it  is  unnecessary  to  mention.  The  com- 
mittee of  this  club  have  the  power  of  electing  annually, 
out  of  their  regular  turn,  nine  persons  eminent  for  sci- 
ence, literature,  art,  or  public  services.  The  two  or 
three  men  who  have  in  each  year  received  this  coveted 
privilege  on  the  ground  of  science  now  amount  to  a con- 
siderable number,  and  they  are  all  on  my  list.  Again, 
there  are  certain  dining  clubs  in  connection  with  the 
Royal  Society,  the  one  meeting  on  the  afternoon  of 
every  evening  that  it  meets,  and  the  other  more  rarely, 
and  there  are  about  fifty  members  to  each  of  these 
clubs,  the  same  persons  being  in  many  instances  mem- 
bers of  both.  The  election  to  either  of  the  clubs  is  a 
testimony  of  some  value  to  the  estimation  of  the  scien- 
tific status  of  a man  by  his  contemporaries ; almost  all 
their  members  are  on  my  list.  No  doubt,  many  per- 
sons of  considerable  position  living  in  Edinburgh,  Dub- 
lin, and  elsewhere  at  a distance  from  London,  are  not 
among  those  with  whose  experiences  I am  about  to  deal. 
But  that  is  no  objection ; I do  not  profess  or  care  to  be 
exhaustive  in  my  data,  only  desiring  to  have  a sufficien- 


ANTECEDENTS. 


5 


cy  of  material,  and  to  be  satisfied  that  it  is  good  so  far 
as  it  goes,  and  a perfectly  fair  sample.  I do  not  par- 
ticularly want  a list  that  shall  include  every  man  of  sci- 
ence hi  England,  but  seek  for  one  that  is  sufficiently 
extended  for  my  purposes,  and  that  contains  none  but 
truly  scientific  men,  in  the  usual  acceptation  of  that 
word. 

However,  I have  made  some  further  estimates,  and 
conclude  that  an  exhaustive  list  of  men  of  the  British 
Isles,  of  the  same  mature  ages  and  general  scientific 
status  as  those  of  w'hom  I have  been  speaking,  would 
amount  to  300,  but  not  to  more. 

Some  of  my  rea-ders  may  feel  surprise  that  so  many 
as  300  persons  are  to  be  found  in  the  United  Kingdom 
who  deserve  the  title  of  scientific  men  ; probably  they 
have  been  accustomed  to  concentrate  their  attention 
upon  a few  notabilities,  and  to  ignore  their  colleagues. 
It  must,  however,  be  recollected  that  all  biographies, 
even  of  the  greatest  men,  reveal  numerous  associates 
and  competitors  whose  merit  and  influence  were  far 
greater  than  had  been  suspected  by  the  outside  world. 
Great  discoveries  have  often  been  made  simultaneously 
by  workers  ignorant  of  each  other’s  labors.  This  shows 
that  they  had  derived  their  inspiration  from  a common 
but  hidden  source,  as  no  mere  chance  would  account  for 
simultaneous  discovery.  In  illustration  of  this  view  it 
will  suffice  to  mention  a few  of  the  great  discoveries  in 
this  generation.  That  of  photography  is  most  ultimately 


6 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


associated  with  the  names  of  Niepce,  Daguerre,  and  Tal- 
bot, who  were  successful  in  1839  along  different  lines  of 
research,  but  Thomas  Wedgewood  wras  a photographer 
in  1802,  though  he  could  not  fix  his  pictures.  As  to  the 
origin  of  species,  Wallace  is  well  known  to  have  had  an 
independent  share  in  its  discovery,  side  by  side  with  the 
far  more  comprehensive  investigations  of  Darwin.  In 
spectrum  analysis  the  remarks  of  Stokes  were  anterior 
to  and  independent  of  the  works  of  Kirchhoff  and  Bun- 
sen. Electric  telegraphy  has  numerous  parents,  Ger- 
man, English,  and  American.  The  idea  of  conservation 
of  energy  has  unnumbered  roots.  The  simultaneous  dis- 
covery of  the  planet  Neptune  on  theoretical  grounds  by 
Leverrier  and  Adams  is  a very  curious  instance  of  what 
we  are  considering.  In  patent  inventions  the  fact  of 
simultaneous  discovery  is  notoriously  frequent.  It  would 
therefore  appear  that  few  discoveries  are  wholly  due  to 
a single  man,  but  rather  that  vague  and  imperfect  ideas, 
which  float  in  conversation  and  literature,  must  grow, 
gather,  and  develop,  until  some  more  perspicacious  aud 
prompt  mind  than  the  rest  clearly  sees  them.  Thus, 
Laplace  is  understood  to  have  seized  on  Kant’s  nebular 
hypothesis  and  Bentham  on  Priestley’s  phrase,  “ the 
greatest  happiness  of  the  greatest  number,”  and  each  of 
them  elaborated  the  idea  he  had  so  seized,  into  a system. 

The  first  discoverers  beat  their  contemporaries  in 
point  of  time,  and  by  doing  so  they  become  leaders  of 
thought.  They  direct  the  intellectual  energy  of  the  day 


ANTECEDENTS. 


1 


into  the  channels  they  opened  ; it  would  have  run  in 
other  channels  but  for  their  labor.  It  is  therefore  due  to 
them,  not  that  Science  progresses,  but  that  her  progress 
is  as  rapid  as  it  is,  and  in  the  direction  toward  which 
they  themselves  have  striven.  We  must  neither  under- 
rate nor  overrate  their  achievements.  I would  compare 
the  small  band  of  men,  who  have  achieved  a conspicuous 
scientific  position,  to  islands,  which  are  not  the  detached 
objects  they  appear  to  the  vulgar  eye,  but  only  the 
uppermost  portions  of  hills,  whose  bulk  is  unseen.  To 
pursue  this  metaphor,  the  range  of  my  inquiry  dips  a 
few  fathoms  below  the  level  at  which  popular  reputation 
begins. 

It  is  of  interest  to  know  the  ratio  which  the  numbers 
of  the  leading  scientific  men  bear  to  the  population  of 
England  generally.  I obtain  it  in  this  way  : Although 
180  persons  only  were  on  my  list,  I reckon,  as  already 
mentioned,  that  it  would  have  been  possible  to  have 
included  300  of  the  same  ages,  without  descending  in  the 
scale  of  scientific  position  ; also  it  appears  that  the  ages 
of  half  of  the  number  on  my  list  lie  between  fifty  and 
sixty-five,  and  that  about  three-quarters  of  these  may  be 
considered,  for  census  comparisons,  as  English.  I com- 
bine these  numbers,  and  compare  them  with  that  of  the 
male  population  of  England  and  Wales,  between  the 
same  limits  of  age,  and  find  the  required  ratio  to  be  about 
one  in  10,000.  What,  then,  are  the  conditions  of  nature, 
and  the  various  circumstances  and  conditions  of  life — 


8 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


which  I include  under  the  general  name  of  nurture — 
which  have  selected  that  one  and  left  the  remainder? 
The  object  of  this  book  is  to  answer  this  question. 


DATA. 

My  data  are  the  autobiographical  replies  to  a very 
long  series  of  printed  questions  addressed  severally  to 
the  180  men  whose  names  were  in  the  list  I have  de- 
scribed, and  they  fill  two  large  portfolios.  I cannot 
sufficiently  thank  my  correspondents  for  the  courteous- 
ness with  which  they  replied  to  my  very  troublesome 
queries,  the  great  pains  they  have  taken  to  be  precise 
and  truthful  in  their  statements,  and  the  confidence 
reposed  in  my  discretion.  Those  of  the  answers  which 
are  selected  for  statistical  treatment  somewhat  exceed 
100  in  number.  In  addition  to  these,  I have  utilized 
several  others  which  were  too  incomplete  for  statistical 
purposes,  or  which  arrived  late,  but  these  also  have  been 
of  real  service  to  me ; sometimes  in  corroborating,  at 
others  in  questioning  previous  provisional  conclusions. 
I wish  emphatically  to  add,  that  the  foremost  members 
of  the  scientific  world  have  contributed  in  full  propor- 
tion to  their  numbers.  It  must  not  for  a moment  be 
supposed  that  mediocrity  is  unduly  represented  in  my 
data. 

Natural  history  is  an  impersonal  result ; I am  there- 
fore able  to  treat  my  subject  anonymously,  with  the 


ANTECEDENTS. 


9 


exception  of  one  chapter  in  which  the  pedigrees  of  cer- 
tain families  are  given. 


NATURE  AND  NURTURE. 

The  phrase  “nature  and  nurture”  is  a convenient 
jingle  of  words,  for  it  separates  under  two  distinct  heads 
the  innumerable  elements  of  which  personality  is  com- 
posed. Nature  is  all  that  a man  brings  with  himself 
into  the  world ; nurture  is  every  influence  from  without 
that  affects  him  after  his  birth.  The  distinction  is 
clear : the  one  produces  the  infant  such  as  it  actually  is, 
including  its  latent  faculties  of  growth  of  body  and 
mind  ; the  other  affords  the  environment  amid  which 
the  growth  takes  place,  by  which  natural  tendencies  may 
be  strengthened  or  thwarted,  or  wholly  new  ones  im- 
planted. Neither  of  the  terms  implies  any  theory ; 
natural  gifts  may  or  may  not  be  hereditary ; nurture 
does  not  especially  consist  of  food,  clothing,  education,  or 
tradition,  but  it  includes  all  these  and  similar  influences 
whether  known  or  unknown. 

When  nature  and  nurture  compete  for  supremacy  on 
equal  terms  in  the  sense  to  be  explained,  the  former 
proves  the  stronger.  It  is  needless  to  insist  that  neither 
is  self-sufficient ; the  highest  natural  endowments  may 
be  starved  by  defective  nurture,  while  no  carefulness  of 
nurture  can  overcome  the  evil  tendencies  of  an  intrin- 
sically -bad  physique,  weak  brain,  or  brutal  disposition. 


10 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


Differences  of  nurture  stamp  unmistakable  marks  on  the 
disposition  of  the  soldier,  clergyman,  or  scholar,  but  are 
wholly  insufficient  to  efface  the  deeper  marks  of  indi- 
vidual character.  The  impress  of  class  distinctions  is 
superficial,  and  may  be  compared  to  those  which  give  a 
general  resemblance  to  a family  of  daughters  at  a pro- 
vincial ball,  all  dressed  alike,  and  so  similar  in  voice  and 
address  as  to  puzzle  a recently-introduced  partner  in  Ins 
endeavors  to  recollect  with  which  of  them  he  is  engaged 
to  dance;  but  an  intimate  friend  forgets  their  general 
resemblance  in  the  presence  of  the  far  greater  dissimi- 
larity which  he  has  learned  to  appreciate.  There  are 
twins  of  the  same  sex  so  alike  in  body  and  mind  that 
not  even  their  own  mothers  can  distinguish  them.  Their 
features,  voice,  and  expressions,  are  similar ; they  see 
things  in  the  same  light,  and  their  ideas  follow  the  same 
laws  of  association.  This  close  resemblance  necessarily 
gives  way  under  the  gradually  accumulated  influences  of 
difference  of  nurture,  but  it  often  lasts  till  manhood.  I 
have  been  told  of  a case  in  which  two  twin  brothers, 
both  married,  the  one  a medical  man,  the  other  a cler- 
gyman, were  staying  at  the  same  house.  One  morning, 
for  a joke,  they  changed  their  neckties,  and  each  person- 
ated the  other,  sitting  by  his  wife  through  the  whole  of 
the  breakfast  without  discovery.  Shakespeare  was  a 
close  observer  of  nature ; it  is,  therefore,  worth  recol- 
lecting that  he  recognizes  in  his  thirty-six  plays  three 
pairs  of  family  likeness  so  deceptive  as  to  create  absurd 


ANTECEDENTS. 


11 


confusion.  Two  of  these  pairs  are  in  the  “ Comedy  of 
Errors,”  and  the  other  in  “Twelfth  Night”  (v.,  1).  I 
heard  of  a case  not  many  years  back  in  which  a young 
Englishman  had  traveled  to  St.  Petersburg,  then  much 
less  accessible  than  now,  with  no  letters  of  introduction, 
and  who  lost  his  pocket-book,  and  was  penniless.  He 
was  walking  along  the  quay  hi  some  despair  at  his  pros- 
pects, when  he  was  startled  by  the  cheery  voice  of  a 
stranger  who  accosted  him,  saying  he  required  no  intro- 
duction because  his  family  likeness  proclaimed  him  to 
be  the  son  of  an  old  friend.  The  Englishman  did  not 
conceal  his  difficulties,  and  the  stranger  actually  lent  him 
the  sum  he  needed  on  the  guarantee  of  his  family  like- 
ness, confirmed,  no  doubt,  by  some  conversation.  In 
this  and  similar  instances  how  small  has  been  the  influ- 
ence of  nurture  ! the  child  had  developed  into  manhood, 
along  a predestined  course  laid  out  in  his  nature.  It 
would  be  impossible  to  find  a converse  instance  in  which 
two  persons,  unlike  at  their  birth,  had  been  moulded  by 
similarity  of  nurture  into  so  close  a resemblance  that 
their  nearest  relations  failed  to  distinguish  them.  Let 
us  quote  Shakespeare  again  as  an  illustration;  in  “A 
Midsummer-Night’s  Dream”  (iii.,  2),  Helena  and  Her- 
mia,  who  had  been  inseparable  in  childhood  and  girl- 
hood, and  had  identical  nurture — 

“ So  we  grew  together, 

Like  to  a double  cherry,  seeming  parted, 

But  yet  a union  in  partition  ” — 

2 


12 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


were  physically  quite  unlike  : the  one  was  short  and 
dark,  the  other  tall  and  fair ; therefore,  the  similarity 
of  their  nurture  did  not  affect  their  features.  The 
moral  likeness  was  superficial,  because  a sore  trial  of 
temper,  which  produced  a violent  quarrel  between  them, 
brought  out  great  dissimilarity  of  character.  In  the 
competition  between  nature  and  nurture,  when  the  dif- 
ferences in  either  case  do  not  exceed  those  which  distin- 
guish individuals  of  the  same  race,  living  in  the  same 
country  under  no  very  exceptional  conditions,  nature 
certainly  proves  the  stronger  of  the  two. 


RACE  AND  BIRTHPLACE. 

As  regards  the  race  of  the  scientific  men  on  my  list, 
it  has  already  been  mentioned  that  for  the  purposes  of 
a census  enumeration  three-fourths  may  be  considered 
English,  but  their  precise  origin  is  as  follows  : Omitting 
a few  Germans,  out  of  every  10  scientific  men,  5 are 
pure  English  ; 1 is  Anglo- W elsh  ; 1 is  Anglo-Irish ; 1 
is  pure  Scotch  ; 1 includes  Anglo-Scotch,  Scotch-Irish, 
pure  Irish,  Welsh,  Manx  and  Channel  Islands ; finally, 
1 is  “ unclassed.”  These  unclassed  are  of  extremely 
mixed  origin.  One  is  in  about  equal  degrees  English, 
Irish,  French,  and  German ; another  is  English,  Scotch- 
creole,  and  Dutch ; another  English,  Dutch-creole,  and 
Swedish ; and  so  on.  (I  trust  the  reader  knows  what 
“creoles”  are — namely,  the  descendants  of  white  fami- 


ANTECEDENTS. 


13 


lies  long  settled  in  a tropical  colony ; and  that  he  does 
not  confound  the  term  with  “ mulattoes.”)  I give  this 
information  without  being  able  to  make  much  present 
use  of  it.  It  is  chiefly  intended  to  serve  as  a standard 
with  which  other  natural  groups  may  hereafter  be  com- 
pared, such  as  groups  of  artists  or  of  literary  men. 

One  would  desire  to  know  whether  persons  in  Eng- 
land generally  show  so  great  a diversity  of  origin ; but 
it  is  somewhat  difficult  to  answer  the  question,  owing  to 
a want  of  precision  in  the  word  “generally.”  If  we  were 
to  go  to  rural  districts,  or  small  stagnant  towns,  we 
should  find  much  less  variety  of  origin ; but  I think 
there  would  be  quite  as  much  in  the  more  energetic 
classes  of  the  metropolis,  who  have  immigrated  from  all 
quarters.  Some  haphazard  selecting  which  I tried  con- 
firmed this  view.  Then  comes  the  important  question, 
Is  this  a sign  that  a mixture  of  one  or  more  of  the  vari- 
ous civilized  races  is  conducive'  to  form  an  able  off- 
spring 1 No  doubt  the  varied  “ nurture  ” due  to  sepa- 
rate streams  of  tradition  has  great  influence  in  awaken- 
ing original-  thought,  but  we  are  not  speaking  of  this 
now;  the  question  is  about  “nature.”  On  an  analysis 
of  the  scientific  status  of  the  men  on  my  list,  it  ap- 
peared to  me  that  their  ability  is  higher  in  proportion  to 
their  numbers  among  those  of  pure  race.  The  Border 
men  and  Lowland  Scotch  come  out  exceedingly  well ; the 
Anglo-Irish  and  Anglo-Welsh,  notwithstanding  eminent 
individual  exceptions,  would  as  a whole  rank  last. 


u 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


Owing  to  my  list  not  being  exhaustive,  I hardly  like  to 
attempt  conclusions  as  to  the  precise  productiveness  of 
scientific  ability  of  the  Scotch,  English,  and  Irish  sev- 
erally, but  there  cannot  be  a shadow  of  doubt  that  its 
degrees  are  in  the  order  I have  named. 

The  birthplaces  of  scientific  men  and  of  their  parents 
are  usually  in  towns,  away  from  the  sea-coast.  Out  of 
every  5 birthplaces  I find  that  1 lies  in  London  or  its 
suburbs ; 1 in  an  important  town,  such  as  Edinburgh, 
Glasgow,  Dublin,  Birmingham,  Liverpool,  or  Manches- 
ter ; 1 is  in  a small  town ; and  2 either  in  a village  or 
actually  in  the  country.  These  returns  are  given  with 
more  detail  in  the  foot-note.1  The  branch  of  science 
pursued  is  often  in  curious  disaccord  with  the  surround- 
ing influence  of  the  birthplace.  Mechanicians  are  usu- 
ally hardy  lads  born  in  the  country,  biologists  are  fre- 
quently pure  townsfolk.  Partly  in  consequence  of  the 
prevalence  of  their  urban  distribution  I find  that  an 
irregular  plot  may  be  marked  on  the  map  of  England 
which  includes  much  less  than  one-lialf  of  its  area,  but 
more  than  92  per  cent,  of  the  birthplaces  of  the  English 
scientific  men  or  of  their  parents.  The  accompanying 
diagram  shows  its  position ; one  thin  arm  abuts  on  the 

1 London,  16;  suburbs,  5 ; = 21.  Edinburgh  and  Glasgow,  7; 
Cork,  Belfast,  and  Dublin,  6 ; Birmingham,  Liverpool,  and  Manches- 
ter, 5 ; total  = 18.  Smaller  towns,  21 ; elsewhere,  40.  General 
total,  100. 


ANTECEDENTS. 


15 


sea  between  Hastings  and  Folkestone,  and  runs  north- 
ward over  London  and  Birmingham,  where  it  is  joined 


by  another  thin  arm  proceeding  from  Cornwall  and 
Devonshire,  crossing  the  Bristol  Channel  to  Swansea, 
and  thence  to  W orcester.  The  two  arms  are  now  com- 


16 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


lined  into  one  of  double  breadth  ; it  covers  Nottingham, 
Shrewsbury,  Liverpool,  and  Manchester.  Above  these 
latitudes  it  again  narrows,  and  after  sending  a small 
branch  to  Hull,  proceeds  northward  to  Newcastle,  Edin- 
burgh, and  Glasgow.  Thus  there  are  large  areas  in 
England  and  Wales  outside  this  irregular  plot  which  are 
very  deficient  in  aboriginal  science.  One  comprises  the 
whole  of  the  eastern  counties,  another  includes  the  huge 
triangle  at  whose  angles  Hastings,  Worcester,  and  Exe- 
ter, or  rather  Exmouth,  are  situated. 

OCCUPATION  OF  PARENTS  AND  POSITION  IN  LIFE. 

My  list  contains  men  who  have  been  born  in  every 
social  grade,  from  the  highest  order  in  the  peerage  down 
to  the  factory-hand  and  simple  peasant,  but  the  returns 
which  I shall  discuss  do  not  range  quite  so  widely. 
These  are  96  in  number,  and  may  be  classified  as  follows 
— but  the  same  name  appears  in  two  classes  on  eleven 
occasions,  so  that  the  total  entries  are  raised  to  10T  : 


Noblemen  and  private  gentlemen 9 

Army  and  navy,  6 ; civil  service,  9 ; subordinate  officers,  3 18 

Law,  11;  medical,  9;  clergy  and  ministers,  6;  teachers, 

6 ; architect,  1 ; secretary  to  an  insurance-office,  1 . . . 34 

Bankers,  7;  merchants,  21;  manufacturers,  15 43 

Farmers 2 

Others » 1 


107 


ANTECEDENTS. 


17 


The  terms  used  in  the  third  and  fourth  groups  must  be 
understood  in  a very  general  sense ; thus,  there  are  some 
“ merchants  ” on  a very  small  scale  indeed,  and  others 
on  a very  large  one. 

It  is  by  no  means  the  case  that  those  who  have  raised 
themselves  by  their  abilities  are  found  to  be  abler  than 
their  contemporaries  who  began  their  careers  with  ad- 
vantages of  fortune  and  social  position.  They  are  not 
more  distinguished  as  original  investigators,  neither  are 
they  more  discerning  hi  those  numerous  questions,  not 
strictly  scientific,  which  happen  to  b§  brought  before  the 
councils  of  scientific  societies.  There  can  be  no  doubt 
but  that  the  upper  classes  of  a nation  like  our  own, 
which  are  largely  and  continually  recruited  by  selections 
from  below,  are  by  far  the  most  productive  of  natural 
ability.  The  lower  classes  are,  in  truth,  the  “ residuum.” 

Of  the  6 clergymen  or  ministers  who  were  fathers  of 
scientific  men,  no  less  than  4 appear  in  a second  cate- 
gory, viz.,  (1)  clergyman  and  school-master ; (2)  phy- 
sician, afterward  clergyman  ; (3)  Unitarian  minister  and 
school-master ; (4)  professor  of  classics,  afterward  an 
Independent  minister.  Among  the  successful  graduates 
of  Oxford  and  Cambridge,  and  among  purely  literary 
men,  we  find  a much  larger  proportion  of  sons  of  clergy- 
men. There  is  at  Cambridge  a well-known  university 
scholarship,  called  the  “Bell,”  which  is  open  only  to  sons 
of  clergymen  of  the  Church  of  England.  As  it  has 
been  chiefly  given  for  classical  proficiency,  we  may  be 


18 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


almost  sure  that  the  senior  classic  of  his  year,  if  he  were 
the  son  of  a clergyman,  would  also  he  a Bell  scholar.  I 
looked  through  the  lists,  and  found  that  out  of  45  senior 
classics  (1 824-’ 68  inclusive)  10  had  gained  the  scholar- 
ship, whence  I conclude  that  at  least  1 out  of  every  4 or 
5 Cambridge  graduates  is  the  son  of  a clergyman.  At 
this  rate,  out  of  100  Cambridge  graduates,  22  would 
have  had  clergymen  of  the  Church  of  England  for  their 
fathers,  whereas  out  of  100  scientific  men  only  3 or  4 
were  so  circumstanced.  It  is  therefore  a fact  that,  in 
proportion  to  the  pains  bestowed  on  their  education  gen- 
erally, the  sons  of  clergymen  rarely  take  a lead  in  sci- 
ence. The  pursuit  of  science  is  uncongenial  to  the 
priestly  character.  It  has  fallen  to  my  lot  to  serve  for 
many  years  on  the  councils  of  many  scientific  societies, 
and,  excepting  a very  few  astronomers  and  mathema- 
ticians, about  whom  I will  speak  directly,  I can  only 
recall  3 colleagues  who  were  clergymen  ; curiously 
enough,  2 of  these,  the  Bevs.  Baden  Powell  and  Dunbar 
Pleath,  have  been  prosecuted  for  unorthodoxy ; the  third 
was  Bishop  Wilberforce,  who  can  hardly  be  said  to 
have  loved  science ; he  rarely  attended  the  meetings, 
but  delighted  hi  administration,  and  sought  openings 
for  indirect  influence.  The  reason  for  the  abstinence 
of  clergymen  from  scientific  work  cannot  be  that  they 
are  too  busy,  too  much  home-tied,  or  cramped  in 
pecuniary  means,  because  other  professional  men,  more 
busy,  more  at  the  call  of  others,  and  having  less 


ANTECEDENTS. 


19 


assured  revenues,  are  abundantly  represented  on  all  the 
council  lists. 

Not  caring  to  trust  my  unaided  recollections,  I have 
examined  the  council  lists  of  ten  scientific  societies,  at  or 
near  the  three  periods,  1850,  1860,  1870.  There  have 
been  changes  in  some  of  the  societies,  and  there  are 
many  trifling  peculiarities  of  detail,  tedious  and  unneces- 
sary here  to  deal  with,  but  the  following  statement  is 
substantially  correct.  The  ordinary  members  of  coun- 
cil are  on  a rough  general  average  20  in  number  to  each 
of  the  following  societies:  (1)  Royal;  (2)  British  As- 
sociation ; (3)  Astronomical ; (4)  Chemical ; (5)  Geo- 
logical ; (6)  Linnsean ; (7)  Zoological ; (8)  Geographi- 
cal ; (9  and  10)  the  two  predecessors  of  the  recently- 
established  Anthropological  Institute,  viz.,  Ethnological 
and  Anthropological;  (11)  Statistical.  Therefore  as  we 
are  dealing  with  3 distinct  periods,  11  societies,  and  20 
members  of  council  to  each,  there  have  been  about 
(3  X 11  X 20  =)  660  separate  appointments.  Clergy- 
men have  held  only  16  of  these,  or  1 in  40  ; and  they 
have  in  nearly  every  case  been  attached  to  those  sub- 
divisions of  science  which  have  fewest  salient  points  to 
scratch  or  jar  against  dogma.  Thus  Prof.  Challis,  Dr. 
Lloyd,  Dr.  Robinson,  Dr.  Whewell,  Rev.  J.  Eisher, 
Rev.  W.  Webb,  Rev.  Vernon  Harcourt,  Prof.  Pritch- 
ard, Prof.  Price,  Rev.  J.  Barlow,  and  Prof.  Willis,  are 
all  chiefly  connected  with  astronomy,  physics,  and  mathe- 
matics ; the  five  remaining  names  are  those  of  the  Rev. 


20 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


G.  C.  Renouard,  the  geographer ; Bishop  Wilberforce, 
and  the  Rev.  Dunbar  Heath,  of  whom  I have  already 
spoken ; the  Rev.  Dr.  Nicholson,  and  the  Rev.  Canon 
Greenwell : there  is  not  a single  biologist  among  them. 

PHYSICAL  PECULIARITIES  OF  PARENTS. 

It  has  been  frequently  asserted  that  certain  physical 
peculiarities  in  the  parents  clash,  and  that  others  com- 
bine happily  in  the  offspring.  I therefore  thought  it 
well  to  make  inquiries  as  to  the  figure,  complexion, 
color  of  hair,  height,  and  other  physical  peculiarities  of 
the  fathers  and  mothers  of  the  scientific  men.  I also 
asked  about  the  temperaments,  if  they  were  marked,  but 
the  answers  to  these  were  few. 

Tables  showing  the  number  of  cases  in  which  there  has  been  harmony 
indifference , or  contrast , between  various  physical  peculiarities  of 
the  two  parents. 

TEMPERAMENTS  OF  PARENTS. 


(h  — harmony,  c = contrast.) 


MOTHERS. 

FATHERS. 

Nervous. 

Sanguine. 

Bilious. 

Lymphatic. 

Nervous 

h.  6 

5 

c.  0 

Sanguine 

1 

h.  3 

c.  0 

Bilious 

4 

.... 

h.  1 

Lymphatic 

c.  0 

c.  2 

— 

k o 

Summary — Harmony,  10  cases  ; contrast,  2 ; indifferent,  10. 
Total,  22. 


ANTECEDENTS. 


21 


COLOR  OF  HAIR  OF  PARENTS. 


(h  = harmony,  c = contrast.) 


MOTHERS. 

FATHERS. 

Black. 

Dark. 

Dark 

Brown. 

Brown. 

Light 

Brown. 

Light. 

Fair. 

Black 

h.  2 

h.  2 

h.  1 

i 

C.  0 

C.  1 

c.  0 

Dark 

h.  2 

h.  5 

h.  1 

2 

2 

c.  1 

c.  1 

Dark  Brown 

0 

h.  2 

h.  4 

h.  3 

3 

0 

c.  0 

Brown  .... 

3 

4 

h.  2 

h.  14 

h.  1 

0 

i 

Light  Brown 

c.  0 

2 

2 

h.  1 

h.  0 

h.  0 

0 

Light 

c.  3 

c.  0 

0 

2 

h.  0 

h.  2 

h.  0 

Fair 

c.  0 

c.  0 

c.  0 

0 

h.  1 

h.  0 

h.  1 

Summary — Harmony,  44  cases  ; contrast,  6 ; indifferent,  22. 
Total,  72. 

I have,  in  addition,  11  cases  of  colored  hair — yellowish,  sandy, 
red,  light  auburn,  dark  auburn,  chestnut — but  not  one  case  of  strict 
harmony  among  them. 

FIGURE  OF  PARENTS  OF  SCIENTIFIC  MEN. 


(h  =:  harmony,  c = contrast.) 


FATHERS. 

MOTHERS. 

Corpulent, 
stout,  or 
plump. 

Muscular, 

robust, 

strong. 

Compact, 

symmet- 

rical, 

stately. 

Spare, 

neat, 

small. 

Medium. 

Corpulent,  stout, 

th.  3 

h.  5 

0 

c.  7 

.C.  1 

Muscular,  robust, 
strong 

[h.  0 

h.  2 

1 

c.  1 

0 

Compact,  symmet- 
rical, stately  . . . 
Spare,  neat,  small . 
Medium 

\ 3 
c.  9 
0 

2 

c.  5 
1 

h.  2 

4 

1 

6 

h.  12 
5 

0 

1 

h.  0 

Summary — Harmony,  24  cases ; contrast,  23  ; indifferent,  24. 
Total,  7L 


22 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


The  foregoing  tables  show  results  bearing  on  the 
question  whether  harmony  or  contrast  prevails  in  the 
physical  characteristics  of  the  parents.  I think  they 
must  be  accepted  as  decidedly  in  favor  of  harmony. 
The  grand  totals  which  they  give  are  78  cases  of  har- 
mony, 31  of  contrast,  and  56  of  indifference.  In  short, 
there  is  more  purity  of  breed  in  scientific  men  than 
would  have  resulted  from  haphazard  marriages.  In  the 
temperaments  of  their  parents,  harmony  strongly  pre- 
vails over  contrast,  the  proportion  being  5 to  1 in  favor 
of  the  former.  In  color  of  hair,  harmony  is  twice  as 
frequent  as  contrast.  In  figure  it  is  equally  common, 
because  “ corpulent,  stout,  or  plump  ” persons  of  one 
sex  seem  to  have  a peculiar  and  reciprocated  liking  for 
“ spare,  neat,  or  small  ” persons  of  the  other.  This  is 
literally  the  only  case  in  these  tables  where  a love  of 

contrast  equals  that  of  harmony.  I came  to  much  the 
« * 

same  conclusions  by  giving  appropriate  marks  for  har- 
mony, contrast,  and  indifference,  to  each  quality  in  each 
case,  thus  obtaining  aggregate  marks  for  every  pair, 
which  I have  treated  on  much  the  same  principle  that 
the  separate  qualities  are  treated  in  the  table.  As  re- 
gards height,  there  is  a stricter  method  of  investigation, 
which  statisticians  will  appreciate.  It  is  well  known,  by 
repeated  experience,  that  the  heights  of  men  and  of 
women  in  any  large  group  are  distributed  according  to 
the  “ law  of  frequency  of  error.”  In  other  words,  the 
proportionate  number  of  people  of  different  heights 


ANTECEDENTS. 


23 


corresponds  to  what  would  have  been  the  case  supposing 
stature  to  be  due  to  the  aggregate  action  of  many  small 
and  independent  variable  causes.  The  probability  is  in- 
conceivably small  that  all  the  independent  causes  should 
in  any  given  case  cooperate  to  produce  an  excess  of 
height ; if  they  did  so,  the  result  would  be  a Brobdigna- 
gian  giant ; or  that  they  should  all  cooperate  to  produce 
a deficiency  in  height,  in  which  case  the  result  would  be 
a Liliputian  dwarf.  On  the  other  hand,  the  probability 
is  great  that  the  number  and  effects  of  the  causes  in 
excess  and  those  in  deficiency  of  their  several  average 
values  will  be  pretty  equal.  As  for  these  and  all  other 
intermediate  cases,  their  relative  frequency  is  deter- 
mined by  the  above  law,  which  is  based  on  that  by 
which  the  relative  frequency  of  different  “ runs  of  luck  ” 
is  calculated. 

I now  proceed  to  apply  this  law.  I have  62  cases  in 
which  the  heights  of  both  parents  'are  given  numerically, 
whence  it  appears  that — (1)  the  average  height  of  the 
fathers  is  between  5 ft.  9 in.  and  5 ft.  9^  in.,  and  that 
their  distribution  conforms  closely  to  the  law  of  fre- 
quency of  error,  the  “ probable  error  ” of  the  series 
being  1.7  in.  (2)  The  average  height  of  the  mothers  is 
5 ft.  4\  in.,  and  the  distribution  of  their  heights  con- 
forms fairly  to  the  above-mentioned  law,  the  “ probable 
error”  of  the  series  being  1.9  in.  It  follows,  from  the 
well-known  properties  of  the  law  in  question,  that  if 
there  had  been  no  sexual  selection  in  respect  of  height, 


2d 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


the  sum  of  the  heights  of  the  two  parents  would  also 
conform  to  the  law  of  frequency  of  error,  and  that  the 
probable  error  of  the  series  would  be  V (1.7)2  + (1.9)2 
= 2.5  in.  (3)  I find  that  the  heights  in  question  do  con- 
form pretty  closely  to  the  law  in  question,  and  that  the 
probable  error  of  the  series  is  2.3  in.,  which  differs  so 
slightly  from  the  value  obtained  by  calculation,  on  the 
supposition  of  there  having  been  no  sexual  preference 
for  contrast  in  height,  that  we  may  safely  affirm  in  this 
case  also,  that  the  love  of  contrast  does  not  prevail  over 
that  of  harmony.1 

It  is  a question  of  high  importance  to  speculations 
on  the  future  of  our  race,  whether  the  instincts  of  sex- 
ual selection  are  or  are  not  repugnant  to  an  improve- 
ment in  the  human  breed.  We  know  perfectly  well 
that  they  are  repugnant  to  unions  where  the  resem- 
blance is  very  close;  thus  near. intermarriages  shock  our 
feelings,  and  the  maintenance  of  high-bred  artificial  vari- 
eties in  their  purity  is  always  effected  with  difficulty 
among  animals.  On  the  other  hand,  they  are  equally 
repugnant  to  unions  hi  which  there  is  great  contrast ; 


1 The  series  of  facts  in  (1),  (2),  and  (3),  and  the  corresponding 
figures  given  by  the  theory  with  which  they  are  supposed  to  con- 
form, are  as  follows : 


(1)  Father. 

(2)  Mother. 

(3)  Both  Parents. 

Fact 

Theory... 

3 15  20  30  18  3 2 
5 15  21  29  IS  5 1 

5 14  82  29  11  6 3 
8 16  2-5  26  15  C 2 

3 IS  34  26  13  5 1 
6 18  31  29  13  2 1 

ANTECEDENTS. 


25 


thus,  the  intermarriage  of  white  and  black  races  rarely 
takes  place,  and  animals  of  different  species  refuse  to 
cross.  Where,  then,  and  how  wide,  is  the  belt  that  lies 
between  close  harmony  and  wide  contrast,  in  which  sex- 
ual instinct  acts  most  powerfully  1 It  appears  from  the 
facts  in  this  chapter,  that  the  marriages  of  parents  of  the 
scientific  men  on  my  list  actually  tended  to  produce  dif- 
ferentiation and  purity  of  race.  My  data  concerning  the 
parents  of  men  of  other  groups  are  insufficient  to  enable 
me  yet  to  give  comparative  results  showing  how  far  the 
selective  sexual  instincts  of  - the  population  generally 
would  thwart,  be  indifferent  to,  or  cooperate  with  the 
influences  of  future  social  restrictions  on  unsuitable  mar- 
riages. or  encouragement  of  suitable  ones. 

PRIMOGENITURE,  ETC. 

The  following  statement  shows,  in  percentages,  the 
position  of  the  scientific  men  in  respect  to  age  among 
their  brothers  and  sisters  : 

Only  sons,  22  cases  ; eldest  sons,  26  cases ; young- 
est sons,  15  cases.  Of  those  who  are  neither  eldest  nor 
youngest,  13  come  in  the  elder  half  of  the  family;  12 
in  the  younger  half;  and  11  are  exactly  in  the  middle. 
Total,  99. 

It  further  appears  that,  at  the  time  of  the  birth  of 
the  scientific  men,  the  ages  of  their  fathers  average  36 
years,  and  those  of  their  mothers  30.  The  details  are 
shown  in  the  table  below  : 


26 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


No.  of 
Cases. 

AGE  OE  PAEENTS  AT  BIETH  OF  SCIENTIFIC 
MEN. 

Total 

Cases. 

Under 

20 

20- 

25- 

30- 

35- 

40- 

45- 

50  and 
above. 

Fathers 

Mothers 

0 

2 

1 

20 

15 

26 

34 

34 

22 

12 

17 

5 

7 

1 

4 

100 

100 

Putting  these  facts  together,  viz.- — (1)  that  elder 
sons  appear  nearly  twice  as  often  as  younger  sons  ; (2) 
that,  as  regards  intermediate  children,  the  elder  and 
younger  halves  of  the  family  contribute  equally  ; and 
(3)  that  only  sons  are  as  common  as  eldest  sons — we 
must  conclude  that  the  age  of  the  parents,  within  the 
limits  with  which  we  chiefly  have  to  deal,  has  little  influ- 
ence on  the  nature  of  the  child ; secondly,  that  the  elder 
sons  have,  on  the  whole,  decided  advantages  of  nurture 
over  the  younger  sons.  They  are  more  likely  to  be- 
come possessed  of  independent  means,  and  therefore 
able  to  follow  the  pursuits  that  have  most  attraction  to 
their  tastes  ; they  are  treated  more  as  companions  by 
their  parents,  and  have  earlier  responsibility,  both  of 
which  would  develop  independence  of  character  ; proba- 
bly, also,  the  first-born  child  of  families  not  well-to-do 
in  the  world  would  generally  have  more  attention  in  his 
infancy,  more  breathing-space,  and  better  nourishment, 
than  his  younger  brothers  and  sisters  in  their  several 
turns. 

The  opposing  disadvantage  of  primogeniture,  in  pro- 


ANTECEDENTS. 


27 


during  less  healthy  children  and  half  as  many  idiots 
again  as  the  average  of  the  rest  of  the  family,  has  not 
been  sensibly  felt,  partly  because  the  latter  risk  is  very 
small,  and  partly  because  the  mothers  of  the  scientific 
men  are  somewhat  less  youthful  than  those  from  whom 
the  above  statistical  results  were  calculated.  ( See  Dun- 
can “ On  Fertility,”  etc.,  second  edition,  pp.  293,  294,  for 
tabulations  of  Dr.  A.  Mitchell’s  results.)  An  unusual 
number  of  the  mothers  of  the  scientific  men  were  be- 
tween thirty  and  thirty-four  at  the  time  of  their  birth  ; 
this  is  a very  suitable  age,  according  to  the  views  of 
Aristotle,  but  undoubtedly  older  than  what  Dr.  Dun- 
can’s statistics  (pp.  3S7,  390)  recommend.  According  to 
these,  the  most  favorable  period  for  the  survival  of 
mother  and  child,  and  therefore  probably  the  best  hi 
every  sense,  is  when  she  is  twenty  to  twenty-five  at  the 
time  of  giving  birth.  The  important  question  of  the 
effect  of  the  age  of  the  parent  on  'the  well-being  of  the 
offspring  seems  never  yet  to  have  been  treated  as  strict- 
ly and  as  copiously  as  it  deserves.  Di'.  Duncan,  in  the 
chapter  of  his  work  above  referred  to,  has  discussed  the 
materials  at  his  disposal  with  great  ingenuity  and  indus- 
try ; but  adequate  statistics,  sorted  according  to  the  vari- 
ous classes  of  society,  are  still  wanting. 

FERTILITY. 

The  families  are  usually  large  to  which  scientific  men 
belong.  I have  two  sets  of  returns — the  one  of  brothers 


'2S  ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 

and  sisters,  excluding,  for  the  most  part,  those  -who  died 
in  infancy  ; and  the  other  of  brothers  and  sisters  who 
attained  thirty  years.  In  these  several  cases  I have 
included  the  scientific  man  himself,  and  find,  on  an  aver- 
age of  about  100  cases,  that  the  total  number  of  broth- 
ers and  sisters  is  6.30  in  the  first  case,  and  4.80  in  the 
second.  It  is  a matter  of  great  interest  to  compare  with 
these  figures  the  number  of  the  children  of  the  scientific 
men  themselves.  It  is  easy  to  do  so  with  fairness,  be- 
cause the  time  of  marriage  proves  to  be  nearly  the  same 
in  both  cases ; if  any  thing,  the  scientific  men  marry 
earlier  than  their  parents.  It  remains  to  eliminate  all 
cases  of  absolutely  sterile  marriages  on  the  part  of  the 
scientific  men,  and  those  in  which  there  might  yet  be 
other  children  born.  Having  attended  to  these  precau- 
tions, I find  the  number  of  their  living  children  (say,  of 
ages  between  five  and  fifty)  to  be  4.7.  This  implies  a 
diminution  of  fertility  as  compared  with  that  of  their 
own  parents,  and  confirms  the  common  belief  in  the  ten- 
dency to  an  extinction  of  the  families  of  men  who  work 
hard  with  the  brain.  On  the  other  hand,  I shall  show 
that  the  health  and  energy  of  the  scientific  men  are 
remarkably  high ; it  therefore  seems  strange  that  there 
should  be  a falling  off  -in  their  offspring.  I have  tried 
in  many  ways  to  find  characteristics  common  to  those 
scientific  men  whose  families  were  the  smallest,  but 
have  only  lighted  upon  one  general  result,  which  I give 
provisionally,  namely,  that  a relative  deficiency  of  health 


ANTECEDENTS. 


29 


and  energy,  in  respect  to  that  of  their  own  parents,  is 
very  common  among  them.  Their  absolute  health  and 
energy  may  be  high,  far  exceeding  those  of  people  gen- 
erally ; but  I speak  of  a noticeable  falling  off  from  the 
yet  more  robust  condition  of  the  previous  generation  : 
it  is  this  which  appears  to  be  dangerous  to  the  continu- 
ance of  the  race.  My  figures  give  the  remarkable  result 
that  there  are  no  children  at  all  in  one  out  of  every 
three  of  these  cases.  I think  that  ordinary  observation 
corroborates  this  conclusion,  and  that  those  of  my  read- 
ers who  happen  to  have  mixed  much  in  what  is  called 
intellectual  society  will  be  able  to  recall  numerous  in- 
stances of  persons  of  both  sexes,  but  especially  of 
women,  possessed  of  high  gifts  of  every  kind,  including 
health  and  energy,  but  of  less  solid  vigor  than  their 
parents,  and  who  have  no  children.  I do  not  overlook 
the  fact  that  the  scientific  men  are  an  urban  population, 
being  mindful  of  results  I have'  published  elsewhere 
( Statistical  Journal , 1873),  which  show  a similar  dimi- 
nution hi  the  average  fertility  of  townsmen  as  compared 
with  country-folk  ; but  this  would  not  account  for  their 
being  less  prolific  than  their  parents  who  were  also 
townsmen,  nor  for  the  large  number  of  wholly  sterile 
marriages. 

HEREDITY. 

The  effects  of  education  and  circumstances  are  so 
interwoven  with  those  of  natural  character  hi  determin- 


30 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


ing  a man’s  position  among  his  contemporaries,  that  I 
find  it  impossible  to  treat  them  wholly  apart.  Still  less 
is  it  possible  completely  to  separate  the  evidences  re- 
lating to  that  portion  of  a man’s  nature  which  is  due  to 
heredity,  from  all  the  rest.  Heredity  and  many  other 
cooperating  causes  must  therefore*be  considered  in  con- 
nection ; but  I feel  sure  that  as  the  reader  proceeds,  and 
becomes  familiar  with  the  variety  of  the  evidence,  he 
will  insensibly  effect  for  himself  much  of  the  required 
separation.  Also,  from  time  to  time,  as  opportunity 
may  offer,  I shall  attempt  to  draw  distinctions. 

The  study  of  hereditary  form  and  features  in  com- 
bination with  character  promises  to  be  of  much  interest, 
but  it  proves  disappointing  on  trial,  owing  to  the  impos- 
sibility of  obtaining  good  historical  portraits.  The  value 
of  these  is  further  diminished  by  the  passion  of  distin- 
guished individuals  to  be  portrayed  in  uniforms,  wigs, 
robes,  or  whatever  voluminous  drapery  seems  most 
appropriate  to  their  high  office,  forgetting  that  all  this 
conceals  the  man.  The  practice  might  well  become 
common  of  photographing  the  features  from  different 
points  of  view,  and  at  different  periods  of  life,  in  such 
a way  as  would  be  most  advantageous  to  a careful  study 
of  the  lineaments  of  the  man  and  his  family.  The 
interest  that  would  attach  to  collections  of  these  in  after- 
times might  be  extremely  great. 


ANTECEDENTS. 


31 


PEDIGREES. 

Thirteen  families  have  been  selected,  out  of  those  to 
which  about  120  of  the  scientific  men  on  my  list  belong, 
as  appearing  noteworthy  for  their  richness  in  ability 
during  two,  three,  or  more  generations,  or  for  any  other 
peculiarity  ; in  some  cases  they  are  also  remarkable  for 
purity  of  type.  The  facts  may  for  the  most  part  be 
verified  by  reference  to  the  publications  of  which  the 
titles  axe  given  ; and  the  whole  could  have  been  obtained 
by  any  one  who  cared  to  search  other  more  or  less  pub- 
lic sources  of  information.  Five  of  these  families  (Ben- 
tham,  Darwin,  Dawson-Turner,  Roscoe,  and  Taylor  of 
Ongar)  have  already  been  alluded  to  in  my  previous 
work  (“  Hereditary  Genius  ”),  whence  I have  extracted 
what  appeared  to  the  point,  adding  what  was  necessary. 
In  estimating  the  number  of  individuals  in  each  genera- 
tion, the  practice  has  been  usually  adopted  of  not  count- 
ing those  who  died  young,  or  have  not  yet  attained  their 
thirtieth  year. 

Alderson. — Many  members  of  this  family  have 
been  intellectually  gifted.  There  has  been  an  unusual 
number  of  cases  of  mathematical  achievement  among 
them. 

First  Generation. — 5 males  and  2 females,  children 
of  the  Rev.  J.  Alderson  and  his  wife  (the  latter  lived  to 
94).  Of'  these,  3 males  deserve  notice:  (1)  James 


32 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


Alderson,  M.  D.,  of  Norwich ; (2)  Robert  Alderson, 
Recorder  of  Norwich,  Ipswich,  and  Yarmouth ; (3)  John 
Alderson,  founder  and  president  of  all  the  literary  and 
scientific  institutions  of  the  time  in  Kingston-upon-Hull. 
All  these  were  men  of  considerable  local  repute. 

Second  Generation. — 15  males  and  12  females,  of 
whom  5 males  and  1 female  deserve  especial  mention  : 
(1)  Sir  Edward  Hall  Alderson,  Baron  of  the  Exchequer, 
who  was  the  first  man  of  his  year  at  Cambridge,  both  in 
mathematics  and  classics,  being  senior  wrangler  and 
senior  classical  medallist,  a distinction  barely  equaled  in 
the  long  annals  of  university  achievement ; (2)  Robert 
Woodhouse,  also  a senior  wrangler,  Lucasian  and  Plu- 
mian  Professor  of  Astronomy  at  Cambridge ; (3)  the 
Rev.  Samuel  H.  Alderson,  third  wrangler,  and  tutor  of 
Caius  College  ; (4)  Sir  James  Alderson,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  S. 
(sixth  wrangler),  for  four  years  President  of  the  Royal 
College  of  Physicians ; (5)  Colonel  Ralph  Alderson, 
R.  E.,  a distinguished  officer,  and  one  of  the  first  gov- 
ernment commissioners  of  railways ; (1)  Mrs.  Amelia 
Opie,  the  novelist. 

Third  Generation. — I have  not  sufficient  information, 
although  I know  that  it  includes  many  persons  of  ability, 
among  whom  is  Major  H.  Alderson,  R.  A.,  a distinguished 
officer  ; also  a married  lady  of  high  artistic  powers. 

Bextiiam. — A family  consisting  of  only  3 male  rep- 
resentatives, all  eminent,  and  one  illustrious. 


ANTECEDENTS. 


33 


First  Generation. — 2 brothers  : (IT)  Jeremy  Ben- 
tham,  jurist  of  the  highest  rank  (life  by  Sir  J.  Bowring, 
prefixed  to  the  collected  works  edited  by  him)  ; (2) 
General  Sir  Samuel  Bentham,  whose  early  manhood  was 
spent  in  the  Russian  service  ; distinguished  for  his 
numerous  administrative  reforms  and  singular  inventive 
power.  Afterward  inspector-general  of  naval  works  in 
England  (life  by  his  widow,  1862). 

Second  Generation. — 1 male  only  : George  Bentham, 
F.  R.  S.,  systematic  botanist  of  the  highest  rank ; in 
early  life,  writer  on  logic ; for  many  years  President  of 
the  Linnaean  Society. 

Carpenter. — Among  the  characteristics  of  this  fam- 
ily are  literary  and  scientific  enterprise,  philanthropic 
effort,  nonconformity,  and  aptitude  for  oral  exposition. 

First  Generation. — Rev.  Lant  Carpenter,  LL.  D., 
Unitarian  minister ; descended  from  a non-subscribing 
Presbyterian  family,  and  married v to  a wife  of  similar 
descent ; a leading  member  of  the  Liberal  party  in 
Exeter  and  Bristol ; extremely  active  in  the  promotion 
of  philanthropic  objects  ; both  literary  and  scientific  in 
his  studies,  and  a man  of  local  celebrity  (memoirs  by 
his  son,  1842). 

Second  Generation. — 2 males  and  3 females,  of 
whom  both  the  males  and  1 female  require  notice:  (1) 
William  B.  Carpenter,  F.  R.  S.,  Registrar  of  the  Lon- 
don University,  physiologist,  and  frequent  writer  and 


34 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


speaker  on  scientific  subjects,  in  many  cases  connected 
with  social  amelioration ; (2)  Dr.  P.  P.  Carpenter  (of 
Montreal)  conchologist  ; actively  engaged  in  philan- 
thropic work  ; (1)  Mary  Carpenter,  actively  engaged  in 
the  foundation  and  organization  of  philanthropic  insti- 
tutions, especially  juvenile  reformatories,  and  promoter 
of  female  education  in  India. 

Third  Generation  (too  young  for  special  notice)  in- 
cludes an  influential  dissenting  minister  and  a very  suc- 
cessful student. 

Darwin. — There  are  many  instances  in  this  family 
of  a love  for  natural  history  and  theory,  and  of  an  apti- 
tude for  collecting  facts  in  business-like  but  peculiar 
ways.  Speaking  from  private  sources  of  knowledge,  I 
am  sure  that  these  characteristics  are  hereditary  rather 
than  traditional ; there  is  also  a strong  element  of  indi- 
viduality in  the  race  which  is  adverse  to  traditional 
influence. 

First  Generation. — (1)  Erasmus  Darwin,  M.  D., 
F.  R.  S.,  physician,  physiologist,  and  poet.  His  “ Bo- 
tanic Garden”  had  an  immense  reputation  at  the  time 
it  was  written ; for,  besides  its  intrinsic  merits,  it  chimed 
in  with  the  sentiments  and  mode  of  expression  of  his 
day.  The  ingenuity  of  Dr.  Darwin’s  numerous  writings 
and  theories  is  truly  remarkable.  He  was  held  in  very 
high  esteem  by  his  scientific  friends,  including  such 
celebrities  as  Priestley  and  James  Watt,  and  it  is  by 


ANTECEDENTS. 


35 


a man’s  position  among  his  contemporaries  and  com- 
petitors that  his  worth  may  most  justly  be  appraised. 
Unfortunately  for  his  memory,  he  has  had  no  goof 
biographer.  He  was  a man  of  great  vigor,  humor,  an  1 
geniality  (Miss  Seward’s  life  of  him,  and  latterly  a 
pamphlet  by  Dr.  Richardson  ; see  also  Meteyard’s 
“Life  of  Wedgwood”);  (2)  his  brother,  Robert  Wa- 
ring Darwin,  wrote  “ Principia  Botanica,”  which  reached 
its  third  edition  in  1810.  It  is  said  (Meteyard’s  “ Life 
of  Wedgwood”)  that  the  Darwins  “ sprang  from  a let- 
tered and  intellectual  race,  as  his  (Dr.  Darwin’s)  father 
was  one  among  the  earliest  members  of  the  Spalding 
Club.” 

Second  Generation. — 7 males,  3 females,  of  whom  3 
males  deserve  notice:  (1)  Charles  Darwin,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  only  twenty-one,  poisoned  by  a dissection- 
wound,  but  who  had  already  achieved  such  distinction 
that  his  name  has  been  frequently  mentioned  in  bio- 
graphical dictionaries.  His  thesis,  pn  obtaining  the  gold 
medal  of  the  Edinburgh  University,  was  on  the  distinc- 
tion between  “ pus  ” and  “ mucus.”  It  was  a real  step 
forward  in  those  early  days  of  exact  medical  science, 
and  was  thought  highly  of  at  the  time ; (2)  Robert 
Waring  Darwin,  M.  D.,  E.  R.  S.,  a physician,  and 
shrewd  observer,  of  great  provincial  celebrity,  on  many 
grounds,  who  lived  at  Shrewsbury.  He  married  a 
daughter  of  Wedgwood’s,  and  was  father  of  Charles 

Darwin  {see  below)  ; (3)  Sir  Francis  Darwin,  originally 
3 


36 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


a physician,  but  for  many  years  living  in  a then  secluded 
part  of  Derbyshire,  surrounded  by  animal  oddities ; 
half-wild  pigs  ran  about  the  woods,  tamed  snakes  fre- 
quented the  house,  and  the  like. 

Third  Generation. — 8 males,  14  females,  of  whom 
3 males  may  be  mentioned ; but  illustriously  among 
them — (1)  Charles  Darwin,  F.  R.  S.,  “the  Aristotle  of 
our  days,”  whom  all  scientific  men  reverence  and  love  ; 
the  simple  grandeur  of  whose  conclusions  is  as  remark- 
able as  the  magnitude  and  multifariousness  of  their 
foundation.  There  is  much  ability  in  many  individuals 
in  this  generation  who  bear  the  name  of  Darwin,  and  it 
has  been  strongly  directed  to  natural  history  in  the  case 
of  (2)  a son  of  Sir  Francis  Darwin,  a frequent  writer, 
under  a well-known  nom  de  plume,  on  sporting  matters. 
Among  those  who  do  not  bear  that  name  (being  children 
of  the  daughters  of  Dr.  Erasmus  Darwin)  I mention 
(3)  myself,1  with  all  humility,  as  falling  technically 
within  the  limits  of  the  group  of  scientific  men  under 
discussion,  on  the  ground  of  former  geographical  work, 
and  having  had  much  to  do  in  the  administration  of 
various  scientific  societies. 

Fourth  Generation. — Includes  very  few  individuals 
who  have  reached  mature  manhood ; among  these  are 

1 Captain  Douglas  Galton,  F.  R.  S.,  distinguished  for  official 
activity  in  many  high  posts,  and  now  Director  of  Public  "Works,  is 
descended  maternally,  not  from  the  Darwin,  but  from  the  Strutt 
family,  which  has  produced  noted  mechanicians. 


ANTECEDENTS. 


37 


(1)  George  Darwin,  second  wrangler  at  Cambridge, 
author  of  an  important  article  on  “ Restrictions  to  Lib- 
erty of  Marriage  ; ” (2)  Captain  Leonard  Darwin,  R.  A., 
who  was  second  in  the  competition  of  his  year  for 
Woolwich,  and  now  engaged  on  the  Transit  of  Venus 
Expedition ; (3)  Henry  Parker,  Eellow  of  University 
College,  Oxford,  classical  scholar  and  chemist. 

Dawson-Turner. — This  family  is  characterized  by 
great  intellectual  activity  and  much  artistic  taste. 

First  Generation. — Dawson  Turner,  F.  R.  S.,  bota- 
nist, scholar,  antiquary  ; a man  of  unwearied  activity  hi 
collecting  and  compiling,  and  an  encourager  of  work  in 
others.  One  of  his  two  uncles  was  the  Rev.  Joseph 
Turner,  senior  wrangler  in  1768,  and  much  distinguished 
by  the  personal  friendship  of  Mr.  Pitt.  Among  his  ten 
male  first-cousins  on  the  paternal  side  were  the  late 
Lord-Justice  Turner  and  his  accomplished  brothers. 

Second  Generation. — 2 males  .and  6 females.  The 
latter  were  all  remarkable  for  their  energy,  accomplish- 
ments. and  the  large  share  they  took  in  the  literary 
labor  of  their  father  and  husbands,  which  was  not  con- 
fined to  transcribing.  Three  were  accomplished  artists, 
one  a musician,  another  well  versed  hi  Greek. 

Third  Generation. — Of  those  above  the  age  of  thirty 
there  are  5 males  and  3 females,  of  whom  4 males  de- 
serve mention  : (1)  Dr.  Joseph  Hooker,  President  of  the 
Royal  Society,  very  eminent  botanist,  director  of  Kew 


38 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE 


Gardens,  and  formerly  Thibetan  traveler,  and  naturalist 
to  an  antarctic  expedition ; his  father  was  Sir  William 
Hooker,  F.  R.  S.,  also  one  of  the  first  botanists  of  his 
day,  and  director  of  Kew  Gardens ; (2)  Francis  Pal- 
grave,  editor  of  the  “ Golden  Treasury,”  scholar  and  art 
critic ; (3)  Gifford  Palgrave,  Orientalist,  Arabian  ex- 
plorer, and  author  of  one  of  the  most  remarkable  works 
of  travel  ever  written ; (4)  R.  H.  Inglis  Palgrave,  sta- 
tistician. (The  father  of  the  last  three  was  Sir  Francis 
Palgrave,  historian.) 

Harcourt. — Scholastic  success,  with  much  love  for 
science. 

First  Generation. — The  Rev.  Vernon  Harcourt,  Arch- 
bishop of  York  ; a man  of  polished  intellect  and  social 
gifts. 

Second  Generation. — 10  males  and  3 females,  of 
whom  4 males  deserve  notice:  (1)  The  Rev.  W.  Ver- 
non Harcourt,  F.  R.  S.,  chemist,  the  first  president  and 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  British  Association  at  a time 
when  science  was  partly  ridiculed  and  partly  denounced. 
He  was  the  chief  framer  of  its  elaborate  constitution, 
which  is,  I believe,  a solitary  instance  of  the  invention 
of  a complex  administrative  machinery  which  worked 
perfectly  from  the  first,  and  has  continued  working, 
almost  unchanged,  for  nearly  half  a century.  It  has 
served  as  a model  upon  which  many  other  societies  have 
organized  themselves.  (2)  Egerton  ; and  (3)  Edward 


ANTECEDENTS. 


39 


Vernon  Harcourt,  both  double-firsts  at  Oxford ; and 
(4)  Granville  Vernon  Harcourt,  who  died  when  an  un- 
dergraduate at  Oxford,  having  gained  the  Latin  univer- 
sity prize. 

Third  Generation. — 10  males  and  13  females,  of 
whom  2 males  deserve  mention:  (1)  Sir  William  Ver- 
non Harcourt,  M.  P.,  lately  solicitor-general,  professor 
of  international  law  at  Cambridge,  well  known  as  a 
political  writer  under  the  name  “ Historicus (2)  Au- 
gustus G.  Vernon  Harcourt,  F.  R.  S.,  a distinguished 
chemist,  Lee’s  reader  in  chemistry  at  Oxford. 

Hill. — The  characteristics  of  this  family  are,  active 
interest  in  social  improvement,  power  of  organization, 
mechanical  aptitude,  and  general  sterling  worth.  Its 
type  in  the  second  generation  seems  to  have  been  unu- 
sually pure. 

First  Generation. — Thomas  Wright  Hill,  descended 
from  stanch  Independents,  and  married  to  a wife  of 
equal  vigor  and  fortitude,  who  came  from  a family 
noted  for  mechanical  aptitude,  which  she  transmitted  to 
her  descendants.  He  rose  by  his  own  exertions,  and 
(aged  forty)  established  a school,  much  spoken  of  at  the 
time,  on  an  entirely  new  principle  of  management,  at 
Hazelwood,  near  Birmingham.  The  boys  were  taken 
into  administrative  cooperation  ; they  regulated  their 
own  discipline,  and  the  things  they  learned  were  of  the 
most  varied  kind.  Some  men  of  high  note  were  edu- 


40 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


cated  there,  and,  among  these,  at  least  one  of  the  scien- 
tific men  on  my  list.  lie  gave  much  attention  to  mental 
calculation,  and  even  on  his  death-bed  (aged  eighty-eight) 
invented  and  successfully  applied  a new  method  for  de- 
termining for  any  year  the  date  of  Easter.  Also  known 
for  his  analysis  of  articulate  sounds  and  phonograph}'. 
(Short  biographical  notice  in  Annual  Report  of  the 
Royal  Astronomical  Society,  February  13,  1852.) 

Second  Generation  consisted  of  5 males  and  2 
females. — All  5 males  had  strong  points  of  resem- 
blance and  deserve  notice.  (1)  Sir  Rowland  Hill, 
K.  C.  B.  and  F.  R.  S.,  originator  and  organizer  of  the 
system  of  penny  postage,  which  is  an  influence  of  the 
first  order  of  magnitude  in  modern  civilization.  He 
was  noted  in  youth  for  powers  of  mental  calculation, 
and  in  some  points  was  superior  even  to  Zerah  Colburn 
and  George  Bidder ; thus  he  could  mentally  extract  to 
the  nearest  integer  the  cube  root  of  any  number  not 
exceeding  two  thousand  millions.  First  inventor  (1S35) 
of  rotatory  printing,  the  method  which,  with  slight 
changes  of  detail,  is  still  in  use  for  newspapers.  Re- 
warded by  three  separate  grants,  viz.,  in  1846  by  a 
public  testimonial  of  the  value  of  £13,360.  in  1864  by 
the  award  from  the  Treasury  of  his  full  salary  of 
£2,000  a year  on  his  retirement,  and  in  the  same  year 
by  a parliamentary  grant  of  £20,000.  (2)  Matthew 

Davenport  Hill,  Q.  C.,  late  Recorder  of  Birmingham  ; 
law  reformer  of  note,  especially  in  reference  to  dealings 


ANTECEDENTS. 


41 


with  the  criminal  class,  substituting  promptitude,  cer- 
tainty, and  strictness,  for  delay,  uncertainty,  and  sever- 
ity ( see  Law  Magazine , July,  1872)  ; (3)  Edwin  Hill, 
superintendent  of  the  stamp  department ; first  inventor 
of  the  envelope  folding-machine,  since  improved  by  Mr. 
He  la  Rue.  He  completely  remodeled  the  stamping 
machinery  at  Somerset  House ; was  most  highly  com- 
mended for  these  improvements  in  each  of  the  first 
three  reports  of  the  Commissioners  of  Inland  Revenue, 
and  again  by  a minute  on  his  retirement,  referring  to  his 
“ eminent  and  exceptional  service.”  He,  like  his  broth- 
er, was  a standard  writer  on  dealings  witli  criminals  ; 
also  on  currency.  (4)  Arthur,  head-master  of  Bruce 
Castle  school,  where  he  fully  developed  the  principles 
first  laid  down  by  his  father ; (5)  Frederick  Hill,  for- 
merly inspector  of  prisons,  then  assistant-secretary  of 
the  Post-Office.  A great  and  thorough  reformer  of  the 
prisons  under  his  observation,  aiming  to  fit  prisoners  for 
honest  life  on  their  release.  Concurrently,  he  contrib- 
uted numerous  memoirs  on  social  improvements  gen- 
erally. 

Third  Generation. — 14  males  and  17  females,  among 
many  of  whom  the  family  characteristics  continue  well 
marked.  Thus  (1)  Dr.  Berkeley  Hill,  and  (2)  Miss 
Emily  Clark  of  Adelaide,  Australia,  are  both  actively 
engaged  in  work  connected  with  pauper  children. 


Lxtrobe. — A family  characterized  by  its  religious 


42 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


bent  and  musical  and  literary  tastes,  joined  to  a love  of 
enterprise. 

First  Generation. — Benjamin  Latrobe,  a convert  to 
the  Moravians,  of  which  estimable  sect  he  was  a patri- 
arch and  a mainstay  (Aikin’s  “ History  of  Manchester”). 

Second  Generation. — 3 males,  0 females ; 2 at  least 
of  whom  deserve  notice : (1)  Christian  Ignatius  La- 
trobe, author  of  the  well-known  collection  of  sacred 
music ; (2)  Benjamin  Latrobe,  architect  and  engineer 
in  America. 

Third  Generation. — 7 males,  2 females,  of  whom  2 
deserve  especial  notice:  (1)  Charles  Joseph  Latrobe, 
Governor  of  Victoria  at  the  time  of  the  gold  discover- 
ies ; author  of  a once  extremely  popular  book  on  Switz- 
erland, called  the  “ Alpenstock,”  which  was  the  precur- 
sor of  Murray’s  hand-books  and  more  generally  diffused 
knowledge.  Many  others  of  this  generation,  who  bear 
the  Latrobe  name,  are  gifted  with  the  family  character- 
istics. (2)  John  Frederick  Bateman,  F.  E.  S.,  distin- 
guished engineer. 

Fourth  Generation — (still  young) — includes  Colonel 
Osman  Latrobe,  who  was  chief  of  General  Lee’s  staff  in 
America  at  an  early  age. 

Playfair. — Among  the  characteristics  of  this  family 
is  an  interest  in  various  branches  of  science  joined  to  a 
capacity  for  official  work  and  public  action. 

First  Generation. — Rev.  Dr.  Playfair,  principal  of 


ANTECEDENTS. 


43 


the  University  of  St.  Andrews,  author  of  a work  on 
geography. 

Second  Generation. — 1 males  and  3 females,  of 
whom  3 males  deserve  notice : (1)  George  Playfair, 
M.  D.,  chief  inspector-general  of  hospitals  in  Bengal ; 
he  was  the  head  of  his  profession  in  India,  and  author 
of  various  medical  memoirs ; (2)  Colonel  Sir  Hugh 
Lyon  Playfair,  who  on  his  retirement  from  service  pur- 
sued a life  of  incessant  activity  in  public  improvement 
(numerous  biographical  notices  were  written  of  him  soon 
after  his  death)  ; (3)  Colonel  William  Playfair,  whose 
memory  still  lives  in  Lidia  as  one  of  the  most  accom- 
plished amateur  actors. 

There  were  two  cousins  in  this  generation,  the  one  a 
very  distinguished  man,  Prof.  Playfair,  the  celebrated 
mathematician,  and  author  of  the  “ Huttonian  Theory 
the  other  was  Mr.  Playfair,  an  architect  of  much  emi- 
nence, to  whom  many  of  the  principal  public  buildings 
in  Edinburgh  are  due. 

Third  Generation. — 21  males  and  20  females,  of 
whom  2 males  deserve  especial  notice:  (1)  The  Right 
Hon.  Lyon  Playfair,  M.  P.,  F.  R.  S.,  formerly  profess- 
or of  chemistry,  long  engaged  in  scientific  administra- 
tion of  various  kinds,  and  postmaster-general  at  the 
close  of  the  late  administration  ; (2)  Colonel  R.  L. 
Playfair,  R.  A.,  the  well-known  consul-general  of  Al- 
giers, and  naturalist.  A third  brother  is  a professor  at 
King’s  College. 


44 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


Roscoe.  — The  type  of  this  family  is  strongly 
marked ; it  has  been  characterized  by  much  cultivation, 
refinement,  and  poetical  taste. 

First  Generation. illiarn  Roscoe,  author  of  “ Lo- 
renzo di  Medici,”  “ Leo  X.,”  etc.  The  above-mentioned 
characteristics  were  strongly  marked  in  him.  (Life  by 
his  son,  Memoirs  by  Hartley  Coleridge  in  “ Northern 
Worthies,”  and  “ Sketches  ” by  Washington  Irving.) 

Second  Generation. — 7 males  and  3 females,  of  whom 
4 males  and  2 females  deserve  notice  : (1)  Thomas  Ros- 
coe, editor  of  Lanzi’s  “ History  of  Painting,”  and  author 
of  many  other  works ; (2)  Henry  Roscoe,  author  of  a 
standard  book  on  the  “ Law  of  Evidence,”  of  “ British 
Lawyers,”  and  of  the  Life  of  his  father ; (3)  and  (4), 
both  decidedly  gifted,  and  authors  of  poems  of  merit ; 
(1)  Jane  Elizabeth  Roscoe,  a woman  of  superior  mind, 
intensely  interested  . in  public  affairs,  writer  of  some 
poems;  (2)  Mary  Anne  Roscoe,  authoress  of  poems  of 
merit. 

Third  Generation. — 17  males,  16  females,  of  whom 
3 males  and  1 female  deserve  notice  : (1)  William  Cald- 
well Roscoe,  poet  and  critic  (memoirs  and  collected 
works  by  R.  H.  Hutton)  ; (2)  Henry  Enfield  Roscoe,  F. 
R.  S.,  professor,  eminent  chemist ; (3)  William  Stanley 
Jevons,  F.  R.  S.,  professor,  author  of  the  “Coal  Ques- 
tion,” and  of  various  works  on  logic  and  political 
economy:  (1)  Margaret  Roscoe,  afterward  Mrs.  Sand- 
bach,  novelist. 


ANTECEDENTS. 


45 


Strachey. — An  old  family,  small  in  numbers,  but  of 
a marked  and  persistent  type.  Among  its  characteristics 
are,  an  active  interest  in  public  matters  and  an  adminis- 
trative aptitude. 

There  have  been  men  of  eminence  in  generations  pre- 
vious to  those  mentioned  below. 

First  Generation. — Sir  Henry  Strachey,  under-secre- 
tary of  state,  and  otherwise  employed  in  high  official 
posts  in  India,  America,  and  England ; real  negotiator 
of  Peace  of  Versailles  (Stanhope’s  “History  of  Eng- 
land ”) ; received  medal  of  Society  of  Arts  for  having 
introduced  indigo  into  Florida. 

Second  Generation. — 3 males,  1 female,  of  whom  2 
males  deserve  notice:  (1)  Sir  Henry -Strachey,  Indian 
judge,  called  by  James  Mill,  in  his  “ History  of  India,” 
“ the  wisest  of  the  Company’s  servants  “ aided  much 
in  the  organization  of  the  Indian  judicial  administration  ; 
(2)  Edward  Strachey,  author  of  reports  of  acknowl- 
edged weight  on  Indian  judicial  subjects  (Fifth  Report). 

Third  Generation. — 6 males  and  1 female,  of  whom 
3 males  deserve  notice  : (1)  Sir  John  Strachey,  eminent 
in  all  branches  of  civil  administration  in  India ; (2) 
Henry  Strachey,  Thibetan  explorer,  gold  medallist  of 
the  Royal  Geographical  Society ; (3)  Major-General 
Richard  Strachey,  R.  E.,  F.  R.  S.,  active  administrator 
of  Indian  engineering- work  ; physical  geographer. 


•Taylors  of  Ongar. — Numerous  members  of  this 


46 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


family  have  shown  a curious  combination  of  restless 
literary  talent,  artistic  taste,  evangelical  disposition,  and 
mechanical  aptitudes.  There  is  an  interesting  work  pub- 
lished upon  it,  called  “The  Family  Pen,”  by  the  Rev. 
Isaac  Taylor,  1867  ( see  below  in  the  “ fourth  genera- 
tion ”),  which  contains  a list  of  ninety  publications  by 
ten  different  members  of  the  family,  up  to  that  time ; 
and  there  have  been  more  publications,  and  at  least  one 
new  writer,  since. 

First  Generation. — Isaac  Taylor  came  to  London 
with  an  artist’s  ambition,  and  ended  by  being  a reputable 
engraver.  He  acted  for  many  years  as  secretary  to  the 
Incorporated  Society  of  Artists  of  Great  Britain,  which 
was  the  forerunner  of  the  Royal  Academy.  All  the 
lamily  characteristics  were  strongly  marked  in  him. 

Second  Generation  consisted  of  3 males,  all  of  whom 
deserve  notice:  (1)  Charles  Taylor,  a learned  recluse, 
editor  of  Calmet’s  Bible ; (2)  Rev.  Isaac  Taylor,  author 
of  “ Scenes  in  Europe,”  etc.,  educated  as  an  engraver, 
aifd  far  surpassing  his  father  in  ability.  He  married 
Ann  Martyn,  a woman  of  reputed  genius,  authoress  of 
the  “ Family  Mansion,”  and  the  numerous  able  mem- 
bers of  the  Taylor  family  for  the  two  next  generations 
sprung,  with  one  exception,  from  this  fortunate  union  ; 
(3)  Josiah  Taylor,  eminent  publisher  of  architectural 
works  ; he  made  a large  fortune. 

Third  Generation. — Descendants  of  Isaac  Taylor  and 
Ann  Martyn,  3 males  and  3 females,  of  whom  2 males 


ANTECEDENTS. 


47 


and  2 females  deserve  notice  : (1)  Isaac  Taylor,  author 
of  “ Natural  History  of  Enthusiasm  ; ” (2)  J eff reys 
Taylor,  author  of  “ Ralph  Richards,”  “ Young  Island- 
ers,” etc.  ; (1)  and  (2),  Ann  and  Jane  Taylor,  joint 
authors  of  “ Original  Poems  ” (Aim  married  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Gilbert).  In  this  same  generation  is  ranked  the 
Rev.  Howard  Hinton,  a leading  Baptist  minister,  who 
was  a son  of  one  of  the  sisters  in  the  previous  genera- 
tion, and  is  father  of  a well-known  aurist. 

Fourth  Generation. — 6 males  and  9 females  now  liv- 
ing, and  some  few  others  who  are  deceased ; of  these,  5 
males  and  1 female  deserve  special  notice:  (1)  Rev. 
Isaac  Taylor,  author  of  “Words  and  Places,”  of  “ The 
Family  Pen,”  and  of  “Etruscan  Researches;”  (2)  Jo- 
siah  Gilbert,  author  of  “ The  Dolomite  Mountains  ; ” 
(3)  Joseph  Gilbert,  F.  R.  S.,  eminent  for  his  chemical 
and  physiological  researches  in  their  relation  to  agri- 
culture (the  paternal  race  of  Gilbert  had  also  a marked 
type)  ; (4)  Thomas  Martyn  Herbert,  Independent  minis- 
ter, scholar,  and  writer ; (5)  Edward  Gilbert  Herbert, 
of  the  Chancery  bar,  who  died  young  of  diphtheria  ; (1) 
Helen  Taylor,  authoress  of  “ Sabbath  Bells.” 

Wedgwood.  — This  family  is  curious  for  the  spo- 
radic character  of  its  ability,  as  shown  by  the  number 
of  its  members  in  rather  distant  relationships  who  have 
become  distinguished.  The  W edgwoods  must  originally 
have  been  of  a pure  type,  because  the  name  was  preva- 


48 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


lent  in  the  village  where  the  great  potter  was  born,  and 
the  bearers  of  it  were  largely  interrelated,  and  followed 
the  same  craft.  He  himself  married  a Wedgwood,  who 
was  a third-cousin,  and  both  his  father  and  grandfather 
were  potters.  (Meteyard’s  “ Life.”) 

First  Generation. — Josiah  Wedgwood,  F.  R.  S.,  “Fa- 
ther of  British  Pottery,”  whose  once  abundant  works 
now  fetch  fabulous  prices. 

Second  Generation. — 3 sons  and  4 daughters  ; 1 son 
deserves  notice,  viz.,  Thomas  Wedgewood,  who  died 
young.  His  abilities  were  great ; he  was  an  ardent  ex- 
perimentalist, and  has  some  claim  to  rank  as  the  first 
person  who  ever  made  a photograph.  (See  p.  G.) 

Third  Generation , including  descendants  from  the 
sisters  of  Josiah  Wedgwood,  contains:  (1)  Hensleigh 
Wedgwood  (English  Dictionary  and  “Origin  of  Lan- 
guage ”)  ; (2)  Charles  Darwin,  F.  R.  S.  (see  under  Dar- 
win) ; (3)  Sir  Henry  Holland,  Bart.,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  S., 
who  died  subsequently  to  my  having  begun  this  inquiry  ; 
(4)  S.  H.  Parkes,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  S.,  Professor  of  Hygi- 
ene to  the  Army  Medical  School. 

Fourth  Generation. — (See  under  Darwin.) 


STATISTICAL  RESULTS. 

Let  us  now  look  at  the  near  relations  of  the  scientific 
men  from  a purely  statistical  point  of  view,  combining 
those  already  quoted  with  the  rest,  and  calculate  the  pro- 


ANTECEDENTS. 


49 


portion  of  them  who  have  achieved  distinction.  It  ap- 
pears from  my  returns,  which  are  rather  troublesome  to 
deal  with,  owing  to  incompleteness  of  information,  that 
120  scientific  men  have  certainly  not  more  than  250 
brothers,  460  uncles,  and  1,200  male  cousins  who  reach 
adult  life.  They  have  somewhat  less  than  120  fathers 
and  240  grandfathers,  because  the  list  contains  brothers 
and  cousins.  I will  take  two  groups  : (l)«grandfathers 
and  uncles,  both  paternal  and  maternal,  say  about  660 
persons ; (2)  brothers  and  male  cousins  on  both  sides, 
1,450  persons.  On  the  supposition,  which  is  somewhat 
in  excess  of  the  fact,  that  I am  dealing  with  complete  in- 
formation concerning  the  families  of  120  scientific  men  : 

I find  in  the  first  group  of  660  persons  : (1)  Jeremy 
Bentham,  a great  leader  of  thought  and  founder  of  a 
school  of  philosophy ; (2)  W edgwood,  the  founder  of 
a national  industry  and  art ; (3)  Compton,  the  inventor 
of  a machine  for  cotton  manufacture,  which  gave  a 
timely  impetus  to  that  great  national  industry ; (4) 
Maskelyne,  an  astronomer-royal ; (5)  Playfair,  the  sci- 
entific head  of  a Scotch  university  ; (6)  William  Smith, 
founder  of  British  geology  ; (7)  Harcourt,  the  lawgiver 
and  first  president  of  the  British  Association  ; (8)  Pem- 
berton Milnes,  who  refused  both  a secretaryship  of  state 
and  a peerage  ; (9)  Latrobe,  who  was  to  the  very  wor- 
thy sect  of  the  Moravians  much  what  Barclay  was  to  the 
Quakers,  that  is  to  say,  not  its  founder,  but  a great  sup- 
port to  it;  (10  and  11)  two  archbishops,  Harcourt  of 


50 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


York  and  Brodrick  of  Cashel;  (12)  Erasmus  Darwin, 
poet  and  philosopher  of  high  repute  in  his  day  ; (13) 
Isaac  Taylor,  author  of  “ Natural  History  of  Enthusi- 
asm,” etc.  I will  stop  here,  though  it  would  be  easy  to 
extend  the  list  considerably,  if  I took  a slightly  lower 
level  of  celebrity  for  my  limit. 

Every  one  of  these  13  men,  when  he  died,  was,  or 
would  have  been,  if  he  had  not  previously  outlived  his 
reputation,  the  subject  of  numerous  obituary  notices, 
and  his  death  an  event  of  sufficient  public  interest  to 
warrant  his  being  reckoned  as  an  “ eminent  man.”  I 
formerly  calculated,  and  have  since  seen  no  reason  to 
doubt  my  conclusions,  that  the  annual  obituary  of  the 
United  Kingdom  does  not  include  more  than  50  men 
who  are  eminent  in  that  sense.  Therefore  this  small 
band  of  660  individuals  contains  almost  one-fourth  as 
much  eminence  as  is  annually  produced  by  the  United 
Kingdom.  A different  criterion  of  eminence  may  be 
found  in  the  number  of  celebrated  men  reared  in  the 
universities,  whither  a large  proportion  of  the  brightest 
youths  of  the  nation  find  their  way.  I examined  the 
list  of  honors  at  Cambridge  in  the  ten  years  1820-29 
inclusive,  and  also  the  four  years  1842-45,  of  which  I 
happen  to  have  some  personal  knowledge,  whence  it 
appeared  to  me  that,  on  the  average,  660  Cambridge 
students  do  not  produce  more  than  3 men  whose  general 
eminence  is  of  equal  rank  to  that  of  the  13  men  in  the 
660  grandfathers  and  uncles  under  consideration.  A 


ANTECEDENTS. 


51 


more  exact  test,  and  the  best  of  which  I can  think,  is  to 
examine  into  the  fate  of  the  boys  at  large  schools.  It  is 
not  difficult  to  learn  the  productiveness  of  each  school  as 
regards  eminence,  because  there  are  annual  gatherings, 
to  which  former  school-boys  who  have  won  distinction 
are  generally  invited  and  not  unfrequently  come.  As 
men  begin  to  distinguish  themselves  at  thirty-five,  and 
may  be  supposed  willing  to  attend  on  such  occasions  till 
seventy,  the  notabilities  invited  to  be  present  at  school 
gatherings  represent  the  product  of,  say,  thirty-five 
years.  I feel  sure  that  660  middle-class  boys  do  not 
turn  out  more  than  a fraction  of  one  eminent  man, 
though  they  may  turn  out  many  who  do  well  in  life  and 
earn  fortunes  and  local  repute. 

The  second  of  the  groups  consists,  as  already  men- 
tioned, of  brothers  and  male  cousins,  making  a total  of 
about  1,450  men.  I will  examine  the  achievements  of 
these,  solely  in  respect  to  high  university  success,  partly 
because  several  of  the  cousins  are  too  young  to  have 
had  time  fully  to  distinguish  themselves  otherwise.  Let 
us  limit  ourselves  to  the  following  names  (the  list  would 
be  lengthened  if  we  took  a lower  level)  : Cambridge  : 
(1)  Alderson,  both  first  classic  and  senior  wrangler,  that 
is,  first  mathematician  of  his  year  at  Cambridge ; (2) 
Woodhouse,  senior  wrangler;  (3)  Main,  senior  wran- 
gler ; (4)  Humphrey,  senior  classic ; (5)  Scott,  joint 
senior  classic.  Oxford  : here  the  method  of  examina- 
tion affords  no  means  of  ascertaining  who  is  absolutely 


52 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


the  first  of  his  year,  since  the  men  are  grouped  alpha- 
betically in  classes,  and  not  according  to  their  order  of 
merit  in  those  classes.  The  names  I will  select  are 
those  of  men  who  were  in  the  first  class  and  htfve  subse- 
quently distinguished  themselves,  viz.  : (6)  Moberly, 
head  master  of  Winchester,  now  Bishop  of  Salisbury  ; 
(7)  Francis  Palgrave, -critic ; (8)  Hon.  George  Brodrick, 
first  class  both  in  classics  and  history,  well  known  as  an 
influential  though  anonymous  writer.  It  is  a remark- 
able fact  or  coincidence,  that  5 men  out  of  a group  of 
1,450,  or  say  1 out  of  every  300,  should  be  first  of  his 
year  in  the  single  University  of  Cambridge,  either  in 
mathematics  or  in  classics.  This  is  about  the  proportion 
that  exists  among  the  men  who  actually  go  to  Cam- 
bridge, and  these,  as  before  mentioned,  are  no  chance 
selections,  but  include  a large  part  of  the  annual  pick  of 
the  intellectual  flower  of  the  whole  nation.  Moreover, 
these  distinguished  brothers  and  cousins  of  scientific  men 
are  themselves  interrelated ; the  two  senior  wranglers, 
Alderson  and  Woodhouse,  being  first  cousins,  and  the 
two  classics,  Scott  and  Brodrick,  being  first  cousins 
also ; both  families  being,  in  other  respects,  rich  in 
ability. 

We  may  otherwise  appreciate  the  influence  of  hered- 
ity, as  distinguished  from  that  of  tradition  and  educa- 
tion, by  observing  the  similarity  of  disposition  that 
sometimes  prevails  among  numerous  scattered  branches 
of  the  same  family.  The  two  following  extracts  from 


ANTECEDENTS. 


53 


the  replies  I have  received,  are  illustrations  of  what  I 
mean  : 

(1)  “My  numerous  relatives,  though  unknown  to 
fame,  are  mostly  characterized  by  great  breadth  of 
thought  and  rare  independence  of  action.”  [These  char- 
acteristics seem  clearly  traced  by  the  writer  to  a great- 
grandparent  who  immigrated  from  Germany]  ; (2) 
“ Counting  third  cousins,  I have  scores  and  scores  of 
relatives,  and  scarcely  an  unsteady  person  among  them.” 

I have  numerous  returns,  in  which  the  writer  ana- 
lyzes his  own  nature,  and  confidently  ascribes  different 
parts  of  it  to  different  ancestors.  One  correspondent 
has  ingeniously  written  out  his  natural  characteristics  in 
red,  blue,  and  black  inks,  according  to  their  origin — a 
method  by  which  its  anatomy  is  displayed  at  a glance. 

My  data  afford  an  approximate  estimate  of  the  ra- 
tio, according  to  which  • effective  ability  (hereditary  gifts 
plus  education  plus  opportunity)  is  distributed  through- 
out the  different  degrees  of  kinship.  They  state — (1) 
the  number  of  kinsmen  in  the  several  near  degrees  ; 
(2)  the  number  of  those  among  them  who  were  in  any 
sense  public  men ; and  (3)  the  number  of  those  who, 
not  being  publicly  known,  had  nevertheless  considerable 
reputation  among  their  friends.  It  is  therefore  only 
requisite  (after  some  previous  revision)  to  add  the  re- 
turns together,  and  to  compare  the  number  of  distin- 
guished kinsmen  in  the  various  degrees  with  the  total 
number  of  kinsmen  in  those  degrees,  to  obtain  results 


54 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


whose  ratio  to  one  another  is  the  one  we  are  in  search  of. 
These  conclusions  are  not  materially  vitiated  by  the  fact 
that  different  correspondents  may  have  different  esti- 
mates of  what  constitutes  distinction,  so  long  as  each 
writer  is  consistent  to  his  own  scale.  I have  tried  the 
figures  in  many  ways — without  any  revision  at  all,  with 
moderate  revision,  and  with  careful  sifting,  and  I find 
the  proportions  to  come  out  much  the  same  in  every 
case.  In  comparing  these  with  previous  results,  ob- 
tained from  an  analysis  of  men  of  much  higher  general 
eminence  (“Hereditary  Genius,”  p.  317),  I find  the  fall- 
ing off  in  ability  from  the  central  figure,  the  hero  of  the 
family,  to  be  less  rapid  as  the  distance  of  the  kinship 
increases.  There  is,  however,  one  group  in  that  book, 
consisting  of  divines,  whose  general  eminence  is  not  so 
great  as  the  rest,  and  which  also  resembles  the  scientific 
men  in  the  family  distribution  of  ability.  My  former 
figures  for  100  divines  gave  22  notable  fathers,  42 
brothers,  28  grandfathers,  and  42  uncles ; my  present 
results  for  100  scientific  men  are  28,  36,  20,  and  40 
respectively. 

As  regards  the  relative  influence  of  the  paternal  and 
maternal  lines,  I find  close  equality.  My  method  of 
comparison  is  by  setting  off  paternal  grandfathers  and 
paternal  uncles  against  maternal  grandfathers  and  ma- 
ternal uncles,  no  other  near  degree  of  kinship  being 
available  for  the  purpose.  My  results  for  100  scientific 
men  are : paternal  grandfathers,  public  characters,  10  ; 


ANTECEDENTS, 


55 


of  high  private  reputation,  3 ; paternal  uncles,  13  and 
8 ; making  a total  on  the  paternal  side  of  34.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  maternal  grandfathers  are  1 1 and  4 ; 
maternal  uncles,  15  and  7 ; making  a total  on  the  mater- 
nal side  of  37. 1 

I leave  to  another  chapter  some  remarks  about  the 
relative  value  of  maternal  and  paternal  educational  in- 
fluences on  scientific  men. 

1 In  “ Hereditary  Genius,”  p.  196,  having  fewer  cases  of  scien- 
tific men  to  deal  with,  I extended  my  inquiries  to  nephews  and 
grandsons,  and  in  a second  table  even  to  great-grandparents,  great- 
grandsons,  and  other  equally  remote  degrees,  but  this  latter  was 
confessedly  of  little  value. 


CHAPTER  II. 

QUALITIES. 

Energy — Size  of  Head — Health — Perseverance — Practical  Business 
Habits — Memory — Independence  of  Character — Mechanical  Apt- 
itude— Religious  Bias — Truthfulness. 

In  this  chapter  I will  speak  of  the  qualities  which  the 
returns  specify  as  most  conspicuous  in  scientific  men, 
and  I shall  endeavor  to  make  them  tell  their  own  tale 
by  quoting  anonymous  extracts  from  their  communica- 
tions. Some  of  these  qualities  are  common  to  all  men 
who  succeed  in  life,  others — such  as  the  love  for  sci- 
ence— are  more  or  less  special  to  scientific  men.  AA’e 
will  begin  with  the  general  qualities,  with  the  view  of 
obtaining  as  exact  an  idea  as  may  be  of  the  degree  in 
which  they  are  present  in  the  leaders  of  science  of  the 
present  day,  neither  exaggerating  nor  under-estimating. 

ENERGY. 

When  energy,  or  the  secretion  of  nervous  force,  is 
small,  the  powers  of  the  man  are  overtasked  by  his 


QUALITIES. 


57 


daily  duties,  his  health  gives  way,  and  he  is  soon  weeded 
out  of  existence  by  the  process  of  natural  selection  ; 
when  moderate,  it  just  suffices  for  the  duties  and  ordi- 
nary amusements  of  his  life  : he  lives,  as  it  were,  up  to 
his  income,  and  has  nothing  to  spare.  When  it  is  large, 
he  has  a surplus  to  get  rid  of,  or  direct,  according  to  his 
tastes.  It  may  break  out  in  some  illegitimate  way,  or 
he  may  utilize  it,  perhaps  in  the  pursuit  of  science.  It 
will  be  seen  that  the  leading  scientific  men  are  generally 
endowed  with  great  energy  ; many  of  the  most  success- 
ful among  them  have  labored  as  earnest  amateurs  in 
extra-professional  hours,  working  far  into  the  night. 
They  have  climbed  the  long  and  steep  ascent  from  the 
lower  to  the  upper  ranks  of  life ; they  have  learned 
where  the  opportunities  of  learning  were  few ; they 
have  built  up  fortunes  by  perseverance  and  intelligence, 
and  at  the  same  time  have  distinguished  themselves  as 
original  investigators  in  non-remunerative  branches  of 
science.  There  are  other  scientific  men  who  possess 
what  is  sometimes  called  quiet  energy  ; their  vital 
engine  is  powerful,  but  the  steam  is  rarely  turned  fully 
on.  Again,  there  are  others  who  have  fine  intellects, 
without  much  energy ; but  these  latter  classes  are  quite 
in  the  minority.  The  typical  man  of  science  has  been 
at  full  work  from  boyhood  to  old  age,  and  has  exuberant 
spirits  and  love  of  adventure  in  his  short  holidays,  when 
the  engine  of  his  life  runs  free — temporarily  detached 
from  its  laborious  tasks. 


58 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


We  must  be  on  our  guard  against  estimating  a man’s 
energy  too  strictly  by  the  work  he  accomplishes,  because 
it  makes  great  difference  whether  he  loves  his  work  or 
not.  A man  with  no  interest  is  rapidly  fagged.  Pris- 
oners are  well  nourished  and  cared  for,  but  they  cannot 
perform  the  task  of  an  ill-fed  and  ill-housed  laborer. 
Whenever  they  are  forced  to  do  more  than  their  usual 
small  amount  they  show  all  the  symptoms  of  being 
overtasked,  and  sicken.  An  army  in  retreat  suffers  in 
every  way,  while  one  in  the  advance,  being  full  of  hope, 
may  perform  prodigious  feats. 

In  the  following  extracts  I insert  every  thing  that 
seems  deserving  of  mention  as  regards  the  energy  of 
either  parent.  It  will  be  observed  how  strong  is  the 
tendency  for  this  primary  quality  to  be  transmitted 
hereditarily. 

Speaking  generally  of  these  and  all  other  extracts 
printed  in  this  book,  I should  give  the  following  expla- 
nation : 

Whenever  any  thing  is  interpolated  by  me  it  is  put 
in  square  brackets  [ ] . All  proper  names  are  replaced 
by  dots,  because  I do  not  wish  to  administer  to  the  love 
of  gossip.  It  is  indeed  impossible  to  prevent  intimate 
friends  from  sometimes  guessmg  the  name  of  the  au- 
thor, but  I have  taken  care  that  nothing  is  inserted  which 
can  cause  annoyance.  I have  taken  some  trifling  edito- 
rial liberties,  such  as  occasionally  working  the  words  of 
the  question  into  the  answer,  when  the  latter  was  too 


QUALITIES. 


59 


curt  to  explain  itself  ; and  in  a few  cases  the  third  per- 
son has  been  turned  into  the  first,  for  the  sake  of  uni- 
formity. 

Extracts  from  Returns. 

MUCH  ABOVE  THE  AVERAGE FORTY-TWO  CASES. 

1.  “Traveling  almost  continually  from  1846  up  to 
the  present  time.  Restless.  All  life  accustomed  to 
extremely  rough  travel ; often  months  without  house  or 
tent.  Of  mind — restless. 

“ Father — Very  energetic  ; restless.  In  old  age  trav- 
eled considerably.  Mentally  restless.  Mother — Quiet 
and  delicate.” 

2.  “ When  young,  and  to  the  age  of  thirty  or  more, 
worked  habitually  till  two  and  three  a.  m.,  often  all 
night.  Traveled  much  in  various  climates.  Much  en- 
durance of  fatigue  and  hard  living — [an  excellent  moun- 
taineer]. Of  mind — [has  risen  to  the  highest  position 
in  his  branch  of  science,  and  conducts  an  enormous  cor- 
respondence on  a variety  of  technical  and  scientific 
subjects]. 

“ Father — Very  considerable  energy  both  in  body 
and  mind.  Mother — Below  the  average  in  bodily  ener- 
gy, but  remarkably  active  mentally.” 

3.  “ When  fishing  or  shooting  (my  only  occupation 

during  the  holidays)  I am  the  whole  day  on  my  legs. 

4 


60 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


Of  mind — In  thirteen  years  I examined  and  named 
some  40,000  examples,  described  about  7,000  species, 
wrote  some  6,000  pages  of  printed  matter,  carrying  on 
at  the  same  time  a great  deal  of  correspondence. 

“ Father — I cannot  say.  Mother — Is  active  the  whole 
day.  At  the  age  of  sixty-three  she  took  sole  charge  of 
my  child,  then  but  a few  weeks  old,  nursing  it  for  three 
years,  night  and  day.  Energy  of  mind  equal  to  that  of 
her  body.” 

4.  “ Remarkable  energy  and  activity  of  body,  and 
power  of  enduring  fatigue  and  going  without  food. 
Extremely  fond  of  and  an  adept  at  all  field  sports. 
Abstemious.  Of  mind — Vigorous  pursuit  of  scientific 
experiments  and  investigations,  of  investment  and  man- 
agement of  money,  business  transactions,  etc. 

“ Father — Active  in  field  sports;  has  ridden  sixty 
miles  before  dinner.  Abstemious.  Energetic  in  mind. 
Mother — Much  energy,  as  shown  by  activity  and  power 
of  enduring  fatigue.  Great  physical  courage  and  pres- 
ence of  mind  in  danger.” 


5.  “ Remarkable  for  athletic  exercises  when  at  Cam- 
bridge. In  early  life  encountered  great  fatigue  with  the 
army,  as  ...  . during  the  ....  war. 

“ Father — Great  activity  and  immense  energy  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession.  A man  of  most  powerful 
intellect.” 


QUALITIES. 


61 


6.  “ I have  been  and  still  am  a strong  walker,  botli 
mountaineering  and  deer-stalking.  I never  knew  what 
it  was  to  be  tired,  but,  after  the  hardest  day,  was  ready 
to  start  again  with  six  hours’  sleep.  Although  in  my 
sixty-seventh  year,  I am  still  an  indefatigable  deer- 
stalker.” 

7.  “ Strong  when  young — walked  many  a time  fifty 
miles  a day  without  fatigue,  and  kept  up  five  miles  an 
hour  for  three  or  four  hours. 

“ Father — Remarkable  energy  of  body  up  to  the  age 
of  thirty,  as  shown  ....  Of  mind — Remarkable 
energy  from  early  youth  to  his  death  (brought  on  by 
accident  at  seventy-three),  when  he  was  as  actively 
engaged  as  ever  in  preparing  for  experiments  [official 
and  of  a very  multifarious  kind].  Mother — Remark- 
able energy  of  mind  in  assisting  her  father  in  the  prepa- 
ration of  his  lectures,  and  afterward  her  husband  in  his 
official  correspondence  and  writings.  After  his  death 
she  wrote  largely  in  magazines,  and  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
five  published  ‘ Suggestions  for  . . . .’  [certain  im- 
provements in  administration].” 

8.  “ When  under  twenty,  have  walked  twenty  miles 
before  breakfast ; when  about  thirty-two,  walked  forty- 
five  miles ; dined,  and  danced  till  two  in  the  morning 
without  fatigue.  At  the  age  of  twenty-six,  during  four- 
teen days,  was  only  three  hours  per  night  in  bed,  and  on 


62 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


two  of  the  nights  was  up  all  night  preparing  for  .... 
[certain  scientific  work].  Fond  of  mountaineering.” 

9.  “ Considerable  energy  and  power  of  enduring 
fatigue ; rough  traveling  on  small  means  in  ...  . 
[partly-civilized  countries].  Have  rowed  myself  in  a 
skiff  one  hundred  and  five  miles  in  twenty-one  hours 
wffiile  under-graduate  at  .... ; rowed  in  every  race 
during  my  stay  at  the  university ; rowed  two  years  in 
the  university  crew  [Oxford  and  Cambridge  races], 

“ Father — [Many  examples  of  his  energy  in  his 
. . . . life].  Of  mind — Considerable,  compiliug  and 
writing  on  a great  variety  of  subjects,  while  at  the 
same  time  carrying  on  a system  of  ...  . observations, 
and  for  years  together.  Mother — Energy  of  mind  very 
similar  to  that  of  my  father  ; joining  nightly  in  ...  . 
observations,  daily  in  writing  or  drawing  . . . .” 

10.  “ Very  active  in  business,  preferring  walking  to 
the  compulsory  driving ; occupied  fourteen  or  fifteen 
hours  a day  without  distress ; restlessness  kept  under 
conscious  restraint ; longing  for  adventurous  travel,  but 
hindered.  Of  mind — I doubt  whether  any  one  in  my 
profession  has  done  more  work,  if  I may  reckon  the 
total  work  done  in  . . . .,  etc.,  etc. ; and  I worked 
nearly  as  hard  while  a student. 

“ Father — As  a young  man,  an  active  cricketer  and 
volunteer  officer.  A very  earnest,  active  man  in  busi- 


QUALITIES. 


63 


ness,  heavily  engaged  in  it  from  the  age  of  eighteen. 
Besides,  he  took  an  active  part  hi  town  affairs  and  the 
management  of  many  associations.  Mother — A good 
walker,  very  active  in  the  management  of  her  house. 
Although  she  had  a very  large  family,  and  took  most 
diligent  care  of  them,  she  was  always  at  work,  collect- 
ing all  manner  of  things,  arranging,  describing,  corre- 

I 

sponding,  painting,  copying  ; she  was  never  idle.” 

11.  “I  seem  to  possess  the  same  unweariedness  as 
my  father,  and  find  myself  trotting  in  the  streets  as  my 
father  used  to  do. 

“ Father — Was  very  untiring  ; he  tells  me  he  has  rid- 
den one  hundred  miles  in  a day.  He  could  walk  up  one 
of  the  North  Wales  hills  when  nearly  seventy,  and  used 
to  go  long  distances  in  London,  passing  often  from  a 
walk  into  a run.” 

12.  “ La  early  life,  occasionally  workhag  the  night 
through.  Great  adroitness  at  games  ; fast  runner  ; got 
the  prize  for  fencing  at  ...  . On  board  a man-of-avar 
in  18 — ....  did  feats  of  agility,  such  as  going  up 
a rope  hand-over-hand,  which  none  of  the  midshipmen 
would  attempt. 

“ Father — Great  amount  of  quiet  energy.  In  mind 
great  energy  and  perseverance,  which  lasted  to  the  jend 
of  his  life.  Thus  he  had  known  little  Greek,  but  studied 
it  Avhen  an  old  man  for  the  sake  of  his  ...  . research- 
» es  ; also  Aramaic.  Mother — Active  house-mother.” 


64 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


13.  “ Habitually  travel  by  night  without  interfering 
with  work  of  any  kind  carried  on  during  the  day. 
Active  habits  and  great  power  of  enduring  fatigue.” 

14.  “ I was  in  youth  and  early  manhood  bodily 
active,  a good  runner  and  leaper,  excelling  almost  all 
my  schoolfellows  [the  school  Avas  a large  one]  in  both 
points,  and  a persistent  walker.  In  mind — During  the 
best  fifty  years  of  my  life  I went  through  a large 
amount  of  brain-work,  and  Adgorously  pursued  the  seAr- 
eral  interests  indicated  in  the  enumeration  of  my  several 
occupations. 

“ Father — In  bodily  activity  much  like  myself,  with 
the  addition  that  he  was  a good  SAvimmer.  In  mind — 
Capable  of  great  occasional  exertion  rather  than  of  sus- 
tained effort.  Mother — In  mind — Very  energetic  within 
a limited  range.  Always  shoAved  great  courage,  forti- 
tude, and  equanimity.  In  her  nursing  duties,  Avhether 
of  young  or  old,  AAras  active,  persevering,  and  remark- 
ably successful.” 

15.  “At  the  age  of  sixty  made  a tour,  chiefly  pedes- 
trian, of  four  weeks  in  the  Alps  ; ascended  Cima  di 
Jazi ; crossed  St.-Theodule  Pass,  walking  sometimes 
thirty  miles  a day  ; aged  sixty-seven,  grouse-shooting  and 
deer-stalking.  Walk  six  miles  daily  to  present  date. 
Of  mind — See  list  and  dates  of  Avorks  and  papers  [an 
enormous  amount  of  Avork], 


QUALITIES. 


65 


“ Father — Active  disposition;  he  let  his  family  es- 
tate, entered  largely  into  mercantile  pursuits,  and  died 
[abroad].” 

16.  “ When  young,  a very  quick  runner  and  jump- 
er ; good  shot  with  a bow  and  arrow.  In  middle  age, 
walked  to  extent  of  twenty-five  miles  a day  for  many 
months,  forty  miles  in  one  day,  rarely  tired.  Of  mind 
— In  early  life,  any  amount,  provided  the  subject  was 
interesting.” 

17.  “ At  times,  great  fatigue  has  been  gone  through 
in  connection  with  my  profession.  In  mind — A good 
deal  of  continued  power  of  brain- work ; mental  fatigue 
is  a sensation  not  known. 

“ Father — Very  energetic.  In  mind—  Remarkably  so. 
Having  been  ruined  in  early  life,  he  articled  himself  to 
a solicitor  when  he  was  thirty-five  years  of  age;  pro- 
cured good  practice,  and  wrote  [a  small  technical  book] 
on  law.  Mother — Loved  to  go  through  much  fatigue. 

In  mind — V ery  energetic  ; added  greatly  to  the  income 
of  her  family  by  her  writings.” 

18.  “Active  bodily  work  an  absolute  necessity  of 
my  being  ; without  it  my  epigastrium  would  gnaw  itself 
into  fiddle-strings.  In  mind — My  scientific  works  must 
answer  this  question  [they  are  very  considerable]. 

“ Father — Decidedly  active  and  energetic  ; used  to 


66 


ENGLISH  MEN  OL  SCIENCE. 


go  out  fossil-hunting  when  it  was  too  late  to  follow  his 
occupation  [which  involved  out-of-door  work,  lasting  all 
day  and  fatiguing  to  the  muscles].  Mother — Very  in- 
dustrious.” 

19.  “ Excelled  at  school  and  college  in  athletic 
sports,  especially  in  long  jumping  (eighteen  feet).  In 
mind — Almost  incapable  of  fatigue  up  tc  the  age  of 
thirty-eight.  Usually  engaged  in  literary  work  until 
long  after  midnight. 

“ Father — Remarkably  active  habits;  a great  reader 
when  not  engaged  in  drawing  and  writing.” 

20.  “ Excellent  walker ; great  endurance  of  fatigue 
[facts  are  given].  In  mind — Active  mental  effort  all 
my  life ; have  had  abundance  of  active  employment ; 
am  noAV  doing  duty  as  ...  . [numerous  honorary 
offices  of  the  first  rank  in  importance  and  labor], 

“ Father — Energetic,  with  considerable  endurance  ; 
good  swimmer.  In  mind- — He  had  much  the  same  active 
employment  as  myself ; he  took  an  active  share  in  sci- 
ence, politics,  and  in  religion.  Mother — Active  habits ; 
she  had  great  poAver  of  doing  work  and  carrying  on 
business.” 

21.  “When  a boy  of  thirteen  I walked  forty-eight 
miles  in  one  day,  fifty  the  next,  and  about  twenty  the 
third ; when  groAvn  up,  my  poAvers  were  ordinary,  cer- 


QUALITIES. 


07 


tainly  not  above  the  average.  In  mind — Naturally 
indolent ; disinclined  to  work  unless  with  a large  object. 
[N.  B. — I insert  this  moderate  statement  because  my 
correspondent  adheres  to  it  verbally,  and  gives  facts  and 
reasons  which  I cannot  controvert  ; nevertheless,  if 
energy  is  to  be  measured  by  work  actually  accom- 
plished, and  if  my  correspondent’s  work  be  compared 
with  that  of  other  men,  the  estimate  of  his  energy 
would  be  prodigiously  increased.] 

“ Father — When  a young  man  he  and  two  brothers 
walked  sixty  miles  in  one  day.  Much  mental  energy  ; 
ready  for  all  purposes.  When  old  he  was  astonished  at 
the  amount  of  work  in  ....  he  did  when  young. 
Mother — Ordinary,  both  bodily  and  mental.” 

22.  “ Has  done  his  chief  brain-work  between  ten 
p.  m.  and  two  a.  m.,  besides  all  the  day-labor  ; rests  per- 
fectly during  a night  railway  journey. 

“ Father — Great  energy,  and  very  active  ; capable  of 
enduring  great  fatigue.” 

23.  “ Active  and  energetic  from  infancy  to  eighty- 
four  years  of  age.  In  mind — I must  leave  my  works 
to  answer  this  question  ; but  I believe  I have  been  a 
hard  worker  during  the  whole  period  of  my  existence. 
[N.  B. — No  doubt  of  it.] 

“ Father — Energetic,  both  in  body  and  mhid  ; mus- 
cular ; a great  reader.  Mother — Delicate,  but  active 
and  intelligent.” 


68 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


24.  “ A strong  walker  and  oarsman  ; can  write 
more  rapidly  than  any  man  I ever  met  (thirty  folios 
of  seventy -two  words,  equal  to  2,160  words,  an  hour). 
In  mind — Have  always  worked  long  hours  and  very 
fast. 

“ Father — Remarkable  energy  and  endurance,  not- 
withstahding  asthma : very  hard-working  as  a ...  . 
Mother — Physically  weak,  but  has  had  a large  family  ; 
lias  done  a great  deal  of  original  as  well  as  of  steady 
work.” 

25.  “ I am  a hard  rider  with  hounds,  fond  of  moun- 
taineering, and  not  easily  tired. 

“ Father — An  active  man  all  his  life,  riding  every 
day,  and  always  about,  although  over  eighty.” 

26.  “ Energy  shown  by  much  activity,  and,  while  I 
had  health,  power  of  resisting  fatigue.  I and  one  other 
man  were  alone  able  to  fetch  water  for  a large  party  of 
officers  and  men  utterly  prostrated  [other  facts  given  in 
illustration  of  undoubted  energy].  In  mind — Shown 
by  vigorous  and  long-continued  work  on  same  subject, 
as  twenty  years  on  ...  . and  nine  years  on  ...  . 

“Father— Great  power  of  endurance,  although  feel- 
ing much  fatigue,  as  after  consultations  after  long  jour- 
neys ; very  active ; not  restless.  In  mind — Habitually 
very  active,  as  shown  in  conversation  with  a succession 
of  people  during  the  whole  day.” 


QUALITIES. 


69 


27.  “ Considerable  enduring  power  in  fulfilling  any 
given  task  or  duty  ; have  dissected  continually  for  three 
or  four  weeks  eight  or  nine  hours  a day,  devoting  some 
sixteen  hours  to  the  work  at  critical  times.  In  mind — 
Considerable.  Wrote  and  superintended  first  edition  of 
. . . .,  giving  instructions  to  artists  regarding  from  200 
to  300  woodcuts,  correcting  press,  etc.,  without  assist- 
ance, in  about  seven  months  [all  this  in  addition  to  pro- 
fessional work]  ; hard  work  for  mind  as  well  as  body.” 

28.  “ Energetic.  In  mind — [extraordinarily  so,  both 
in  administrative  and  in  original  work]. 

“ Father — Energetic.  Author  of,  I think,  more  than 
seventy  scientific  memoirs.” 

29.  [Formerly  great  power  of  railway  travel  with- 

out fatigue.  In  mind — Active  and  energetic  in  a very 
high  degree,  as  shown  by  the  amount  of  his  official  and 
private  work],  * 

“ Father — Always  on  horseback  ; traveled  very  con- 
stantly and  rapidly.  Steady  in  pursuit  of  an  object. 
He  would  break  in  horses  with  great  skill  and  patience  ; 
would  learn  languages  with  great  perseverance,  even 
after  fifty  years  of  age.  Mother — Very  energetic  in 
. . . . inquiries.” 

30.  “ Great  activity  at  cricket  and  football  up  to 
age  of  twenty-five.  Captain  of  ...  . eleven  for  five 
years  ; used  to  row  a great  deal  in  heavy  boats.” 


70 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


31.  “I  possess  considerable  bodily  energy,  and  when 
young  excelled  in  fencing,  swimming,  and  the  high  jump. 
In  mind — Have  worked  hard  with  my  brain  for  the  last 
thirty-five  years,  almost  without  intermission. 

“ Father — Considerable  bodily  energy,  and  a good 
pedestrian.  Mother — Sluggish  bodily  powers,  but  in 

mind  most  energetic  when  once  roused  to  action  by  a 
subject  that  interested  her  feelings.” 

32.  “ Sufficiently  patient  of  ordinary  fatigue,  cold, 
and  hunger,  to  enable  me  to  enjoy  traveling  in  unfre- 
quented countries  when  my  companions  suffered  much 
discomfort.  In  mind — Can  commonly  work  from  twelve 
to  fourteen  hours  a day  without  any  remarkable  amount 
of  exhaustion. 

“ Father — Capable  of  enduring  fatigue.” 

33.  [This  is  a case  of  extraordinary  mental  activity, 
as  shown  by  eviddtce  which  I do  not  feel  justified  in 
quoting.  It  was  rewarded  by  success,  notwithstanding 
serious  impediments  hi  boyhood.] 

“ Father — A most  energetic  man;  all  for  practical 
pursuits.  Mother — An  unusually  strong  mind,  and 

steady  love  and  search  for  knowledge.” 

34.  “ W alked  from  Cambridge  to  London  in  a day. 
At  the  age  of  sixty-eight  ascended  the  Piz  Corvatsch,  in 
the  Engadine.  In  mind — [Facts  evidencing  consider- 
able energy  are  quoted]. 


QUALITIES. 


71 


“ Father — Fond  of  exercise ; a good  walker.  Mother 
— decidedly  active  bodily  habits'.” 

35.  “ I am  decidedly  lazy ; but  with  due  stimulus 
could  always  get  through  a great  amount  of  physical 
work,  and  was  rather  the  better  for  it.  In  mind — As  a 
boy,  I worked  for  three  months  all  day  and  all  night, 
with  not  more  than  four  or  five  hours’  sleep.  When 
full  of  a subject  and  interested  in  it,  I have  written  for 
seven  or  eight  hours  without  interruption,  and  without 
feeling  any  notable  fatigue.” 

36.  “ In  early  life  as  a boy  I was  engaged  in  business 
from  twelve  to  fourteen  hours  a day,  yet  always  found 
time  to  study  and  make  my  own  instruments.  Later 
on,  my  studies  and  scientific  work  were  always  accom- 
plished after  business-hours ; and  it  was  generally  my 
habit  to  commence  work  after  dinner,  and  to  work  in 
science  until  two,  three,  or  four  in  the  morning,  and  to 
begin  work  in  business  again  at  nine.  I never  thought 
of  rest  if  I had  any  thing  in  hand  of  interest. 

“ Father — Remarkably  active,  and  capable  of  sus- 
taining an  amount  of  bodily  exertion  which  would  have 
destroyed  the  health  of  most  men  ; for  example,  I have 
known  him  sustain  great  fatigue  for  eighteen  hours  out 
of  the  twenty-four  for  months  at  a stretch.  A great 
walker.  In  mind — Of  indomitable  activity ; a great 
reader ; always  at  work  in  applying  discoveries  in  ...  . 


72 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE.  ' 


to  the  arts ; an  untiring  worker  in  any  thing  he  under- 
took. Mother — Busily  active ; great  and  rapid  reader 
of  current  literature — perhaps  had  read  almost  every 
book  of  interest’  in  fiction  which  appeared.” 

37.  “Used  to  work  all  day  at  business,  and  one-half 
or  three-quarters  of  the  night  at  science.  From  Satur- 
day afternoons  to  Monday  mornings  would  walk  forty 
to  fifty  miles  [hi  pursuit  of  a branch  of  natural  history]. 
Could  work  hard  at  business  all  day  (and  a very  anxious 
business),  and  at  evening  and  night  would  work  hard  at 
[two  branches  of  science].  Found  a wonderful  relief  in 
science. 

“ Father — Energetic  in  traveling  ; great  energy  in 
business.” 

38.  “ For  several  years  was  engaged  hi  full  medical 
practice,  and  at  the  same  time  was  a lecturer  on  ...  . 
and  engaged  in  investigations  on  ...  . for  which  the 
royal  medal  was  awarded  by  the  Iloyal  Society. 

“ Father  and  Mother — Both  of  active  habits.” 

39.  “ In  professional  life  I have  often  been  up  three 
successive  nights  without  distress,  but  did  not  like  a 
fourth,  if  it  came.  Consider  that  my  limit.  In  mind — 
Wrote  ....  [a  considerable  work]  between  11  p.  m. 
and  2 a.  m.,  after  professional  hours.  All  the  time  that 
I have  devoted  to  science  has  been  stolen  from  strictly 
professional  engagements,  but  more  often  from  myself.” 


QUALITIES. 


73 


40.  “ Considerable  power  in  earlier  clays  of  enduring 
mental  fatigue  and  of  taking  up  without  difficulty  a con- 
siderable range  of  subjects.  Example : I was  for  a 
little  while,  at  the  age  of  seventeen  to  twenty,  employed 
in  teaching,  and  I contrived  in  my  scanty  intervals  of 
leisure  to  read  a very  large  quantity  of  Greek  and  Latin, 
and  to  become,  without  any  external  assistance,  a very 
fair  mathematician  [my  correspondent  occupies  a high 
official  position,  hi  which  considerable  mathematical 
knowledge  is  essential].  I learned  also  Italian  at  this 
time.” 

41.  “I  should  say  considerable,  j'udging  by  the  num- 
ber of  things  I have  been  able  to  learn  and  to  do  since 
adult  age.” 

42.  “ 1 think  considerable,  in  mind.  Have  com- 
monly had  it  said  of  me  that  it  was  wonderful  how  I 
got  through  so  much  work. 

“ Father  — Was  well  known  as  a hard  worker. 
Mother — A great  reader  ; taught  herself  Greek  and 
Hebrew,  and  learned  German  in  later  life,  to  read  Lu- 
ther and  other  theological  writers  in  the  original.  A 
great  student  of  theology.” 

CASES  OF  ENERGY  BELOW  THE  AVERAGE TWO  CASES. 

1.  “No  remarkable  energy  of  body.  In  mind — 
Never  capable  of  a large  amount  of  brain-work  ; for 


n 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


years  have  regarded  myself  as  defective  in  train-power. 
[The  actual  performance  of  this  correspondent  is  consid- 
erable, and  of  a very  high  order.] 

“ Father — In  early  life  fond  of  athletic  sports,  and 
an  enthusiastic  sportsman.  Energy  of  mind  very  re- 
markable, shown  in  early  university  and  professional  life 
and  all  subsequent  occupations.  He  wrote  a large  num- 
ber of  publications  on  subjects  of  ...  . and  . . . . 
controversy.  Mother — Energy  of  mind  remarkable ; 

zeal  in  pursuit  of  interests,  excessive.” 

2.  “ Constitutionally  languid,  with  a strong  wish  for 
greater  energy  and  more  power  of  enduring  fatigue. 
In  mind — Energetic  as  far  as  health  permits.  Much 
occupied  professionally,  but,  when  well,  capable  of  vig- 
orously following  up  the  science  of  ....  in  leisure 
hours. 

“ Father — Energetic  in  body  as  far  as  his  health 
allowed  ; in  mind,  very  energetic.  His  brain-work  from 
an  early  age  was  very  large  in  amount,  and  he  was 
vigorous  and  sanguine  about  any  thing  he  undertook. 
Mother — V ery  languid ; incapable  of  any  bodily  exer- 
tion. Very  little  energy  of  mind ; too  languid  to  take 
much  interest  in  any  thing  beyond  her  own  family. 

SIZE  OF  HEAD. 

I may  mention  that  energy  appears  to  be  correlated 
with  smallness  of  head,  a fact  which  is  well  illustrated 


QUALITIES. 


75 


here,  although  the  average  circumference  of  head  among 
the  scientific  men  is  great.  Energy  is  also,  as  we  have 
seen,  strongly  marked  among  them ; hut  it  is  much 
more  strongly  marked  among  those  who  have  small 
heads.  I have  ninety-nine  returns,  many  of  which  I 
have  verified  myself,  using  the  hat-maker’s  whalebone 
hoop,  and  measuring  inside  the  hats.  It  appears  that 
the  average  circumference  of  an  English  gentleman’s 
head  is  22  J to  22|-  inches.  Now,  I have  only  thirteen 
cases  under  22  inches,  but  eight  cases  of  24  inches  or 
upward.  The  general  scientific  position  of  the  small- 
headed (who  are  mostly  slender,  but  not  necessarily 
short)  and  large-headed  men  seems  equally  good ; but 
the  fact  is  conspicuous  that,  out  of  the  thirteen  of  the 
former,  there  are  only  two  or  three  who  have  not  re- 
markable energy ; and  out  of  the  eight  of  the  latter 
there  is  only  one  who  has.  A combination  of  great 
energy  and  great  intellectual  capacity  is  the  most  effec- 
tive of  all  conditions  ; but,  like  the  combination  of 
swiftness  and  strength  in  muscular  powers,  it  is  very 
rare. 

HEALTH. 

The  excellence  of  the  health  of  the  men  in  my  list  is 
remarkable,  considering  that  the  majority  are  of  middle 
and  many  of  advanced  ages.  One-quarter  of  them  state 
that  they  have  excellent  or  very  good  health,  a second 
quarter  have  good  or  fair,  a third  have  had  good  health 


76 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


since  they  attained  manhood,  and  only  one-quarter  make 
complaints  or  reservations.  Here  are  two  examples  of 
excellent  health  in  which  some  details  are  given  : 1 . 
“ Only  absent  from  professional  duties  two  days  in 
thirty  years ; only  two  headaches  in  my  life.”  The 
next  is  from  a correspondent  who  is  between  seventy 
and  eighty  years  of  age.  2.  “ Never  ill  for  more  than 
two  or  three  days  except  with  neuralgia  ; no  surgical 
operations  except  inoculation,  drawing  of  one  tooth,  and 
cutting  of  corns.”  1 

I may  add  a characteristic  biographical  extract  from 
the  Times,  October  31,  1873,  relating  to  the  late  Sir 
Henry  Holland,  who  was  on  my  list : “ Certain  it  is,  as 
all  who  have  fallen  in  with  him  by  sea  or  land  will 
attest,  that  he  might  be  seen  in  all  climates,  in  the  arctic 
regions  or  the  tropics,  on  the  prairies  or  the  pyramids, 
in  precisely  the  same  attire — the  black  dress-coat  in 
which  he  hurried  from  house  to  house  in  Mayfair.  Yet 
he  never  had  a serious  illness  till  his  last.  There  was 
not  a day,  probably  not  an  hour,  when  he  could  not 
boast  of  the  mens  sana  in  corpore  sano ; and,  without 
headache  or  heartache,  he  attained  the  extraordinary  age 
of  eighty-six.” 

It  is  positively  startling  to  observe  in  these  returns 
the  strong  hereditary  character  of  good  and  indifferent 

1 I read  this  at  my  lecture  at  the  Royal  Institution.  It  was 
from  the  pen  of  the  geologist.,  Prof.  Phillips  ; a few  days  afterward, 
he  was  killed  by  a fall  down-stairs  at  Oxford ! 


QUALITIES. 


77 


constitutions.  I have  classified  the  entries,  eaeh  entry 
giving  the  health  of  the  scientific  man,  of  his  father  and 
of  his  mother  respectively,  and  find  as  follows  : First, 
a long  row  of  such  terms  as  these : “ Excellent ; ex- 
cellent ; excellent ; ” or  “ Good  ; good  ; good  ; ” then 
comes  another  row'  in  which  some  ailment  is  specified 
by  the  scientific  man  as  affecting  himself,  and  as  having 
also  affected  one  or  other  of  his  parents.  Examples  : 
1 . “ Excellent,  but  hay-fever  ; father,  excellent,  but 
severe  hay-fever.”  2.  “ Good  hi  early  life,  subject  to 
headache  ; father,  good,  subject  to  headache.”  3.  “ Del- 
icate in  early  life,  one  lung  seriously  affected ; mother 
delicate  and  phthisical.”  I can  find  only  twro  cases,  nei- 
ther very  strongly  marked,  in  which  both  parents  are 
described  as  unhealthy,  although  marriages  between  such 
persons  are  not  infrequent.  The  returns  seem  to  show 
that  the  issue  of  these  marriages  are  barely  capable  of 
pushing  their  way  to  the  front  ranks  of  life.  All  statis- 
tical data  concur  in  proving  that  healthy  persons  are  far 
more  likely  than  others  to  have  healthy  progeny ; and 
this  truth  cannot  be  too  often  illustrated,  until  it  has 
taken  such  hold  of  the  popular  mind  that  considerations 
of  health  and  energy  shall  be  of  recognized  importance 
in  questions  of  marriage,  as  much  so  as  the  probabilities 
of  rank  and  fortune. 

I may  mention,  as  a fact  that  corroborates  my  belief 
in  the  exceptionally  good  physique  of  scientific  men,  that 
I find  the  average  height  of  those  wrho  have  sent  me  re- 
turns, to  be  half  an  inch  above  that  of  their  fathers. 


78 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


PERSEVERANCE. 

Steady  perseverance  is  a third  quality  on  which  great 
stress  is  laid  ; but  this  might  have  been  anticipated,  and 
it  is  unnecessary  to  quote  many  instances.  Here  are  a 
few : 

1.  “I  have,  probably  beyond  the  average,  steadiness 
of  determination,  even  when  the  subject  is  distasteful.” 
2.  “ Steadiness  decidedly  marked.”  3.  “ Determina- 
tion never  to  leave  unaccomplished  a matter  once  taken 
in  hand.”  4.  “ Great  continuity  and  steadiness.”  5. 
“Steady  and  intense  perseverance.”  6.  “Very  perse- 
vering, not  discouraged  by  defeat.”  7.  “ Determination 
to  succeed  when  possible  ; my  motto  being,  ‘ Whatever 
thy  hand  findeth  to  do,  do  it  with  all  thy  might,’  for 
‘ the  night  soon  cometh  when  no  man  can  work.’  ” S. 
“ I do  all  things  at  a white  heat,  but  never  tire  of  the 
pursuit.”  9.  “ Continuous  pursuit  of  certain  studies 
from  an  early  age.”  10.  “ Steadiness  and  perseverance 
in  the  pursuit  of  an  object  is  my  most  distinctly-marked 
peculiarity.”  11.  “The  most  prominent  are  persever- 
ance and  industry.  A willing  mind  and  determination 
to  persevere  is,  in  my  opinion,  the  most  direct  road  to 
success ; we  must,  however,  exercise  a sound  judgment 
in  the  selection  of  subjects  on  which  to  exercise  our 
thoughts.” 

I do  not  think  it  necessary  to  quote  the  instances 
where  either  parent  is  also  spoken  of  as  being  remark- 


QUALITIES. 


79 


ably  persevering ; these  may  be  taken  for  granted.  I 
find  that  the  father  is  referred  to  in  strong  terms  eight 
times,  and  the  mother  only  twice. 

As  a set-off  to  the  above,  Impulsiveness  is  not  con- 
fessed to  by  a single  physicist,  chemist,  or  mechanician. 
It  is  equally  absent  in  their  parents,  with  the  exception 
of  the  mother  of  one  of  them.  Among  the  remaining 
men  of  science,  I only  find  five  cases,  but  these  are 
mostly  combined  with  some  tenacity  of  purpose,  and 
■they  are  all  inherited. 

PRACTICAL  BUSINESS  HABITS. 

Some  prevalence  of  practical  business  habits  might 
also  have  been  anticipated,  but  they  prove  to  be  much 
more  common  than  I had  expected.  Among  those  who 
have  sent  me  returns,  I count  no  less  than  seventeen  who 
are  active  heads  of  great  commercial  undertakings. 
There  are  also  ten  medical  men  in  the  highest  rank  of 
practice,  and  eighteen  others  who  fill  or  have  filled  im- 
portant official  posts.  Here  are  some  answers  to  my 
special  inquiries  : 

1.  A most  eminent  biologist  wrote  as  follows,  in 
reply  to  the  inquiry  whether  he  had  any  special  tastes 
bearing  on  scientific  success,  in  addition  to  those  for  his 
own  line  of  investigation  : “ I have  no  special  talent 
except  for  business,  as  evinced  by  keeping  accounts, 
being  regular  in  correspondence,  and  investing  money 


80 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


very  well.”  It  is  clear  that  method  and  order  are  essen- 
tial to  the  man  who  hopes  to  deal  successfully  with  mass- 
es of  details. 

2.  “ I believe  I may  say  that  my  organ  of  order  is 
highly  developed.  Of  my  collection  of  some  seven 
thousand  birds’  skins,  every  one  is  always  in  its  place, 
ticketed  with  name,  etc.,  all  by  my  own  hand.  I spend 
much  time,  perhaps  too  much,  in  putting  things  straight.” 

3.  “ I believe  I am  reckoned  a good  chairman  at 
public  meetings,  and  I always  find  that  administrative 
and  other  work  gravitates  toward  my  hands.” 

4.  “ My  professional  life  is  strictly  methodical  ; 
every  working-day  is  still  mapped  out  into  hours,  half- 
hours,  and  quarters.” 

Fully  one-half  of  those  who  state  that  they  possess 
business  habits  in  a decided  degree  accredit  one  or  both 
of  their  parents  with  the  same  faculty. 

Only  two  of  my  correspondents  speak  of  being  de- 
ficient in  business  capacities.  Both  these  are  physicists. 

The  following  quotation  may  with  propriety  be  in- 
serted here,  although  the  first-named  quality,  indepen- 
dence, is  the  subject  of  a future  chapter  : “ 1 attribute 
all  the  knowledge  I have  acquired,  and  any  success  I 
may  have  had,  chiefly  to  three  qualities,  all  of  which  I 


QUALITIES. 


81 


believe  I inherited.  First,  independence  of  judgment 
which  prompted  me  to  learn  for  myself  what  I wanted 
to  know.  Secondly,  earnestness,  determination,  and  per- 
severance in  acquiring  such  knowledge,  often  under  diffi- 
culties, and  in  the  face  of  routine  business  occupation  ; 
and  thirdly,  a business-like,  practical,  logical  way  of 
looking  at  things,  which  enabled  me  to  direct  attention 
to  the  important  and  relevant,  neglecting  the  unimpor- 
tant and  irrelevant  points  in  what  I had  to  study  and  do.” 

MEMORY. 

Memory  is  very  variable  hi  power  and  character ; 
perhaps  no  other  quality  is  more  so.  It  is.  an  important 
ingredient  in  that  aggregate  of  faculties  which  form  gen- 
eral scientific  ability,  as  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  about 
one-quarter  of  the  men  on  my  list  possess  it  in  a high 
degree,  but  it  is  not  an  essential  one,  because  it  is  defec- 
tive in  about  one  case  hi  fourteen.  A gpod  memory  is 
of  greater  importance  to  the  young  student  who  has 
much  to  learn,  than  to  the  advanced  philosopher  who  h%s 
chiefly  to  reflect,  and  who  knows  where  to  refer  for  in- 
formation. Memory  is  usually  defective  hi  persons  of 
small  ability,  but  not  invariably  so ; even  among  idiots 
it  may  be  sharp.  There  are  two  cases  of  this  recorded  in 
the  autobiography  of  the  late  Mrs.  Somerville  (p.  92). 
One  cannot  but  suspect  some  exaggeration  hi  the  state- 
ments, and  feel  regret  that  the  cases  were  not  fully 


82 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


inquired  into,  both  as  regards  the  precise  power  of 
memory,  and  the  degree  of  development  of  the  other 
faculties.  She  says  of  the  first  idiot : “ He  never  failed 
to  go  to  kirk,  and  on  returning  home  could  repeat  the 
sermon  word  for  word,  saying,  ‘ Here  the  minister 
coughed,  here  he  stopped  to  blow  his  nose.’  ” She  then 
speaks  of  “ another  idiot  who  knew  the  Bible  so  per- 
fectly that,  if  you  asked  him  where  such  a verse  was  to 
be  found,  he  could  tell  'without  hesitation  and  repeat  the 
chapter.” 

I have  sorted  such  of  the  replies  as  are  of  interest 
into  the  following  groups  : (1)  Good  verbal  memory,  as 
for  prose  and  poetry,  6 cases ; (2)  good  memory  for 
facts  and  figures,  9 cases ; (3)  good  memory  for  form, 

6 cases  ; (4)  good  memory  for  names  in  natural  history, 
4 cases ; (5)  good  memory,  no  details,  5 cases ; (G) 
fitful  and  peculiar  memory,  6 cases ; (7)  bad  memory, 

7 cases.  Total  number  of  noteworthy  cases,  43.  I 
have  not  induced  in  the  above  a few  instances  in  which 
the  scientific  man  has  described  his  own  memory  simply 
a§  “ good,”  nor  others  in  which  he  has  made  no  remark, 
except  that  one  of  his  parents  had  very  good  memory. 
The  hereditary  character  of  this  quality  is  abundantly 
illustrated. 

Good  Verbal  Memory , as  for  Prose  and  Poetry. 

1.  “Very  great,  both  for  facts  and  words;  I could 
in  my  earlier  days  often  retain  poetry  after  two  peru- 


QUALITIES. 


83 


sals,  and,  once  learned,  it  was  seldom  forgotten.  I have 
seldom  met  a quicker  or  more  retentive  memory  in  any 
one.” 

2.  “ After  reading  over  a lecture  or  speech  of  an 
hour’s  duration,  three  times,  can  recollect  nearly  the 
words  as  written  for  8 or  10  days.”  [I  am  informed 
verbally  by  this  correspondent,  that  he  is  obliged  to  ab- 
stain from  writing  out  his  addresses,  etc.,  beforehand, 
otherwise  he  has  found  the  memory  of  what  he  wrote  to 
be  so  strong  and  exacting  as  to  make  it  difficult  to  him 
to  deviate  from  it  and  accommodate  his  language  to  the 
current  temper  of  his  audience.] 

“ Mother — Excellent  memory.” 

3.  “ Considerable,  both  verbal  and  objective ; great 
facility  in  quotations ; familiarity  with  large  collections 
of  coins  and  specimens. 

“ Father  and  Mother — Both  good  memories.” 

4.  “ In  childhood,  all  the  Psalms,  old  version  ; much 
old  English  poetry ; afterward,  nearly  the  whole  Latin 
grammar  (Eton),  Virgil,  Ovid,  Lucan  ; still  later,  con- 
siderable parts  of  the  Iliad,  Odyssey,  etc.,  could  be,  and 
partly  can  [still]  be,  repeated  ex  memorih ; zoological, 
botanical,  mineralogical,  and  paleontological  names  in 
abundance.” 

5.  “ My  memory  was  very  good.  I remember  as  a 
boy  to  have  read  Schiller’s  ‘Thirty  Years’  War;’  I 

5 


84 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


could  afterward  without  effort  say  pages  of  the  work  by 
heart.” 

6.  “ At  school  I used  to  learn  in  a single  evening  a 
hundred  lines  of ‘Virgil,  and  repeat  them  correctly  in  the 
morning. 

“ Father — Very  good.” 

Good  Memory  for  Facts  and  Figures. 

1.  “Next  to  no  verbal  memory,  but  good  for  facts 
small  or  great  which  will  fit  into  any  chain  of  reasoning.” 

2.  “ Of  moderate  verbal  memory,  but  strongly  re- 
tentive of  facts  and  figures  so  far  as  they  are  related  to 
any  subject  on  or  in  which  I was  engaged. 

“ Father — Memory  very  retentive,  but  not  system- 
atic. He  had  a great  amount  of  information,  but  had 
not  great  acquirements ; his  familiarity  with  Scripture 
was,  however,  remarkable.  Mother — Very  retentive  for 
small  facts  and  figures.” 

3.  “ My  memory  of  things  learned  early  in  life  (as 
dates,  rules,  examples  of  grammar,  etc.)  very  retentive, 
but  of  all  isolated  facts  of  subsequent  occurrence,  as  the 
birthdays  of  my  children,  and  the  dates  of  events  of  my 
own  life,  I am  singularly  destitute  of  retentive  power. 
On  the  other  hand,  of  whatever  is  linked  by  rational 
association  with  any  subject  in  which  I take  an  interest, 
my  memory  is  very  good. 


QUALITIES. 


85 


“ Father — The  power  of  his  memory  was  shown  by 
the  great  range  of  his  acquirements ; he  had  greater 
power  of  remembering  isolated  facts  than  I have.” 

4.  “ I should  say  far  above  the  average.  I can  now 
refer  to  note-books  of  thirty  years  past  and  select  a spe- 
cial observation.  In  other  words,  it  is  a capital  working 
memory.  I never  tried  to  learn  pages  of  poetry,  etc. ; 
in  this  I should  probably  have  failed.” 

5.  “ Memory  exceedingly  strong  and  retentive,  espe- 
cially of  dates,  figures,  and  events. 

“ Father  and  Mother — Both  had  good  memories.” 

6.  “ Great  memory  for  figures  ; can  get  up  pages  for 
examination  before  committees,  and  dismiss  them  from 
memory  afterward.  Strong  recollection  of  scenery.” 

7.  “ V ery  retentive  memory,  especially  of  acts,  cir- 
cumstances, and  individuals.” 

8.  “ Never  kept  a diary ; clear  remembrance  of 
events  in  childhood  with  their  dates  in  every  year  from 
the  age  of  six  onward.  Solve  problems  better  out-of- 
doors  than  in  the  study.  Can  forget  useless  knowledge, 
such  as  formulae,  rules,  gossip,  etc.,  very  fast.” 

9.  “ Bad  memory  for  names  and  dates,  but  good  as 
regards  facts  or  circumstances  ; principles  in  physical 
science  are  clearly  retained. 


86 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


“ Father — Excellent  memory  for  historical  events,  in- 
cluding dates  and  names  in  ancient  and  modern  history. 
Mother — Moderately  good.” 

• Good  Memory  for  Form. 

1 . “ Memory  most  treacherous  except  in  certain  re- 
spects. Vivid  and  generally  very  accurate  as  to  places 
and  visual  images.  As  to  thousands  and  perhaps  tens 
of  thousands  of  specimens  and  plants,  can  remember  the 
exact  spot  where  each  was  gathered.  As  to  a multitude 
of  facts  that  should  have  interested  me,  my  memory  is 
a blank  and  the  original  impression  revived  with  diffi- 
culty, if  at  all.  . . . Very  retentive  and  accurate  as  to 
the  sequence  of  impressions  from  early  childhood  onward. 

“ Father — Remarkably  retentive  memory  ; quoted 
long  passages  from  classical  authors  not  seen  for  a very 
long  time  previously.  Shortly  before  his  death,  at  sev- 
enty-three, recited  a long  passage  from  ‘ Gibbon,’  not 
read  for  fifty  years  before.  Mother — Memory  not  reli- 
able generally,  but  clinging  strongly  to  special  scenes 
and  events.”  , 

2.  “ I recognize  most  of  the  animal  forms  which  1 
have  previously  examined,  buT  I forget  easily  the  details 
of  their  structure,  also  their  systematic  names  (specific, 
not  generic).  Likewise  I have  a good  memory  for  faces, 
but  not  for  names  of  persons ; could  never  remember 
historical  dates.” 


QUALITIES. 


87 


3.  “ Great  power  of  remembering  forms  and  points 
of  objective  interest  ; none  of  numbers  or  abstract 
arguments.  Languages,  poetry,  etc.,  soon  lost  if  not 
kept  up.” 

4.  “ Strong  local  memory  especially  of  scenery.” 

5.  “ Very  good  memory  for  ideas  and  general  no- 
tions, also  of  persons  and  places  seen ; verbal  memory 
not  at  all  good.  Mother — Good  memory.” 

6.  “ Great  memory  for  faces  and  objects  once  seen.” 

7.  “ A good  memory  for  faces,  for  locality,  for 
things,  for  events,  for  scientific  facts ; but  not  particu- 
larly good  for  figures  or  quantities,  except  in  all  neces- 
sary routine,  as  in  prescribing  and  in  subjects  of  lecture. 
Never  failed  to  recall  what  I desired,  in  my  lectures. 

“ Father — An  excellent  memory  ; was  a very  first- 
rate  whist-player.  Mother  — An  excellent  memory  ; 
played  a capital  game  at  whist.” 

Good  Memory  for  Names  in  Natural  History. 

The  power  of  recollecting  a multitude  of  grotesque 
and  barbarous  names,  which  all  naturalists  must  possess 
to  a considerable  degree,  and  which  seems  so  extraordi- 
nary to  persons  who  axe  not  naturalists,  is  hardly  alluded 
to  in  these  returns.  It  would  appear  that  our  most  emi- 
nent naturalists  are  not  very  specially  gifted  among  their 


88 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


fellow-workers  in  this  respect.  Here  are  a few'  cases  of 
a rather  good  memory  of  the  kind  : 

1 . “ Memory  strong  up  to  the  age  of  thirty-eight ; 
still  good  and  capable  of  recognizing  and  naming  proba- 
bly between  two  and  three  thousand  species  of  animals 
and  plants,  including  fossil  forms. 

11  Father — Remarkable;  capable  of  accurately  re- 
peating from  memory  the  substance  of  speeches  deliv- 
ered at  clerical  and  other  meetings.” 

2.  “ Retentive  of  botanical  names ; rather  deficient 
in  other  respects,  especially  as  to  persons.” 

3.  “ Retentive  for  nomenclature,  but  not  for  num- 
bers or  history.” 

4.  “ . during  practitional  life  I have  gone  over 

the  foraminiferse  and  remember  all  their  names.” 

Good  Memory , no  Particulars  given. 

1.  “ Very  remarkable  retentiveness  of  memory. 

“ Father — Good.  Mother — Very  good,  full  of  anec- 
dote.” 

2.  “ V ery  good  memory  as  far  as  my  eighty-fifth 
birthday.” 

3.  “ Very  good. 

“Father — Good.” 


QUALITIES. 


89 


4.  “ V ery  retentive,  but  not  exactly  accurate.” 

5.  “ Retentive  memory  for  what  was  of  interest,  and 
very  accurate.” 

“ Father — Retentive.” 

6.  “ Very  good  as  a boy  and  young  man.” 

Fitful  and  Peculiar  Memory. 

1.  “ Occasionally  remarkable,  but  very  fitful.  I 
have  occasionally  been  able  to  repeat  pages  after  once 
or  twice  reading ; at  other  times  it  is  below  the  average. 
A power  of  eliminating  and  retaining  the  salient  points 
of  what  I read,  if  it  interests  me,  but  very  bad  memory 
for  facts  and  details.” 

2.  “Although  1 can  speak  for  an  hour  or  two  from  a 
few  notes,  I could  not  repeat  correctly  a few  sentences 
from  memory. 

“ Father  — Remarkable  for  good  verbal  memory  ; 
could  repeat  pages  of  poetry  and  speeches,  without  mis- 
take— a striking  contrast  to  my  own  memory.” 

3.  “ My  father  and  myself  have  memories  of  the 
same  character  ; treacherous  in  matters  of  business,  and 
very  retentive  of  scraps  of  verse  read  over  and  learned 
long  ago.  When  my  father  was  to  have  met  me,  a 
little  boy  returning  from  school  at  the  end  of  the  half, 


90 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


he  would  forget  all  about  it.  My  engagements  some- 
times suffer  ....  [from  similar  forgetfulness].” 

4.  “ Memory  very  retentive  in  regard  to  incidents 
and  events,  but  could  never  learn  by  rote  except  with 
great  effort.  Often  surprise  my  patients  by  recollection 
of  their  symptoms,  but  am  often  at  a loss  to  connect 
their  names  with  their  faces. 

“ Father — Memory  remarkably  retentive,  especially 
as  to  the  various  events  of  his  life  and  time.” 

5.  “ Memory  very  bad  for  dates  and  for  learning  by 
rote,  but  [extraordinarily]  good  in  retaining  a general  or 
vague  recollection  of  many  facts. 

“ Father — W onderful  memory  for  dates  ; in  old  age 
he  told  a person,  reading  aloud  to  him  a book  only  once 
read  in  youth,  the  passages  which  were  coming ; he 
knew  the  birthdays  and  those  of  the  deaths,  etc.,  of  all 
his  friends  and  acquaintances.” 

6.  “ A peculiar  memory  ; bad  for  names  of  persons, 
plants,  places,  etc. ; good  for  subjects  connected  with 
others  ; not  bad  for  numbers. 

“ Father — A most  marvelously  retentive  memory  ; 
he  could  relate  minute  details  of  historical  occurrences, 
names  of  actors  in  politics,  almost  all  he  had  ever  read 
(he  was  a great  reader),  and  was  in  consequence  a most 
lively  companion.  Mother — Not  very  good.” 


QUALITIES. 


91 


Bad  Memory. 

1.  [A  physicist  informs  me  that  his  memory  is  un- 
able to  retain  even  the  commonest  constants  in  habitual 
use,  and  that  the  selection  of  his  special  line  of  investi- 
gation was  governed  by  his  sense  of  this  disability.] 

2.  “ Bad  memory ; from  boyhood  incapable  of  learn- 
ing school-tasks  by  heart,  though  retaining  a knowledge 
of  principles  and  methods.” 

3.  “ I have  a very  poor  memory ; I was  once  a 
whole  fortnight  in  recovering  the  name  of  . . . but  I 
got  it  at  last.  I consider  that  all  attempts  at  making  me 
learn  poetry,  and  in  particular  Latin  poetry  [at  school], 
were  gross  mistakes  ; I was  never  benefited  in  the  least. 
Reasoning  was  my  forte,  and  I could  never  do  any  thing 
by  rote.” 

4.  “A  bad  memory,  especially  for  names.” 

5.  “ Not  possessed  of  a retentive  memory  either  in 
small  matters  or  large  ones,  except  in  those  in  which  I 
take  a special  interest.” 

6.  “ I was  always  slow  at  learning.” 

7.  “ Memory  not  retentive ; very  much  under  the 
influence  of  association  and  suggestion. 

“ Father — Memory  very  retentive  as  to  principles, 
facts,  and  incidents  ; not  much  so  as  to  names  of  persons 
and  objects.  Mother — Not  retentive.” 


92 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


INDEPENDENCE  OF  CHARACTER. 

We  now  come  to  the  qualities  that  are  of  especial 
service  to  scientific  men  ; those  already  mentioned,  of 
energy,  health,  steadiness  of  purpose,  business  habits 
and  memory,  being  of  general  utility.  The  first  of 
these  is  independence  of  character.  Fifty  of  my  corre- 
spondents show  that  they  possess  it  in  excess,  and  in 
only  two  is  it  below  par.  Here  are  a few  examples  : 

1.  “Left,  at  the  age  of  twelve  [that  is,  ran  away 
from],  a school  where  I had  received  injustice  from  the 
master.”  2.  “ Opinions  in  almost  all  respects  opposed 
to  those  in  which  I was  educated.”  3.  “ I have  always 
taken  my  own  independent  line.  My  heresy  prevented 
my  advancement.”  4.  “ Preference  for  whatever  is  not 
the  fashion,  not  popular,  not  rich,  not  very  able  to  help 
itself,  yet  with  qualities  unworthily  overlooked  or  un- 
justly oppressed.” 

The  home  atmosphere  which  the  scientific  men 
breathed  in  their  youth  was  generally  saturated  with  the 
spirit  of  independence.  Examples  : 

1.  “My  father  was  extremely  independent,  in  some 
respects  more  so  than  I am.  He  never  altered  the  fash- 
ion of  his  dress  ; he  never  took  off  his  hat  to  any  one  in 
his  life,  and  never  addressed  any  one  as  Esq.”  2.  “ My 
father  was  a Liberal  when  Liberalism  (then  styled  Jaco- 
binism) was  highly  obnoxious,  an  early  denouncer  of 
slavery  and  advocate  of  religious  liberty,  a free-trader 


QUALITIES. 


93 


when  the  world  was  protectionist,  and  an  opponent  of 
unrighteous  war  when  war  was  most  popular.  He  was 
for  mitigating  our  criminal  code  when  hanging  was  re- 
garded as  the  sheet-anchor,  and,  in  a W'ord,  was  politi- 
cally and  socially  a very  independent  spirit.”  3.  “ My 
father  [an  exceedingly  humane  and  courageous  man,  who 
was  a master  in  the  Royal  Navy]  would  never,  unless 
compelled,  attend  the  flogging  of  seamen,  a punishment 
mercilessly  and  unsparingly  administered  in  his  days 
(1800-1815).”  4.  “It  was  marked  in  my  father;  he 
held  Jacobite  opinions,  when  it  was  not  very  safe  to  hold 
them.”  5.  “ Maintenance  by  my  father  of  religious  and 
political  creeds  at  a time  when  these  creeds  were  unpop- 
ular and  often  disqualifying.” 

In  confirmation  of  the  assertion  that  the  scientific 
men  were  usually  brought  up  in  families  characterized 
by  independence  of  disposition,  I would  refer  to  the 
strange  variety  of  small  and  unfashionable  religious  sects 
to  which  they  or  their  parents  belonged.  We  all  know 
that  Dalton,  the  discoverer  of  the  atomic  theory,  and 
Dr.  Young,  of  the  undulatory  theory  of  light,  were  both 
Quakers,  and  that  Faraday  was  a Sandemanian.  So  I 
find  in  these  returns  numerous  cases  of  Quaker  pedigree ; 
and  I know  of  one  man,  not  as  yet  technically  on  my 
list,  who  was  born  a Sandemanian.  There  are  also  rep- 
resentatives of  several  other  small  sects,  as  Moravians 
and  Bible  Christians,  and  the  Unitarians  are  numerous. 
It  will  be  understood  that  the  object  of  saying  this  is  not 


94 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


to  throw  light  on  the  religious  tendencies  of  the  scien- 
tific men  (concerning  which  I shall  have  almost  imme- 
diately to  speak),  because  so  off-hand  a statement  would 
mislead,  but  to  prove  that  they  and  their  parents  had 
the  habit  of  doing  what  they  preferred,  without  consid- 
ering the  fashion  of  the  day.  The  man  of  science  is 
thoroughly  independent  in  character. 


MECHANICAL  APTITUDE. 

There  is  a prevalent  taste  for  mechanics  among  sci- 
entific men,  whose  peculiarity  it  is  to  be  interested  in 
things  more  than  in  persons.  One  would  have  expected 
to  find  it  developed  among  physicists  ; and,  as  a fact, 
eight  of  them  possess  it  in  a high  degree,  and  similarly 
among  mechanicians  and  engineers,  all  of  whom  must 
possess  it,  and  four  of  whom  testify  to  it,  but  it  seems 
just  as  strong  among  the  rest.  Here  are  instances  and 
extracts  : 

Chemistry. — 1.  “Constructed  a reflecting  telescope, 
with  12-inch  aperture.”  2.  “ Ground,  polished,  and  sil- 
vered a 7-inch  glass  speculum,  and  mounted  it  equato- 
rially.”  Geology. — 3.  “ Considerable  mechanical  skill.” 
Biology. — 4.  “Always  fond  of  constructing ; school  nick- 
name, ‘ Archimedes.’  If  I had  followed  my  profession 
should  probably  have  been  [very  successful  as]  an  engi- 
neer.” 5.  “ Very  fond  of  mechanical  contrivances.  In- 
vented and  made  my  own  toys  as  a child.  Mechanical 


QUALITIES. 


95 


tastes  are  still  largely  indulged  in  intervals  of  leisure.” 
6.  “ Speoial  love  of  mechanics  ; a good  amateur  cabinet- 
maker and  blacksmith.  Made  lithotrites.”  7.  “ Talent 
for  mechanics.”  8.  [Was  extremely  ingenious  in  de- 
vising modes  of  preserving  and  exhibiting  objects  of 
natural  history.]  9.  “ Strong  natural  inclination  toward 
mechanism.”  [Ilis  present  profession  was  accidental 
and  against  the  grain.]  10  and  11.  “Aptitude  for 
mechanism.”  12.  “A  decided  turn  for  mechanical  pur- 
suits, both  in  arrangement  and  construction.”  Statis- 
tics.— 13.  “ Fond  of  and  quick  in  understanding  machin- 
ery.” 14.  “ I always  took  great  interest  in  mechanical 
improvement.”  15.  “I  often  feel  a positive  pain  in 
passing  an  object  of  which  I do  not  comprehend  the 
meaning  and  construction.” 

RELIGIOUS  BIAS. 

It  appears  that  out  of  every  ten  scientific  men,  seven 
call  themselves  members  of  the  Established  Churches  of 
England,  Scotland,  or  of  the  now  disestablished  Church 
of  Ireland,  and  three  belong  to  one  or  more  of  the  fol- 
lowing sects,  which  I name  in  the  order  in  which  they 
are  most  numerously  represented  : 

1.  None  whatever ; 2.  Established  Church  with  qual- 
ification ; 3.  Unitarian;  4.  Nonconformist;  5.  Wesley- 
an ; 6.  Catholic ; 7.  Bible  Christian.  There  is  much 
Quaker,  and  even  some  Moravian  blood,  but  there  are 


96 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


none  who  have  sent  me  returns  who  still  profess  those 
creeds.  The  creeds  of  the  parents  are  somewhat  more 
varied  than  the  above,  and  the  Unitarian  el  eluent  is 
stronger. 

The  religious  feeling  of  men  of  science  is  necessarily 
of  a peculiar  character.  Being  thoughtful  men,  they  are 
probably  more  occupied  with  religious  ideas  than  the 
generality  of  people  ; but,  being  exacting  of  evidence 
and  questioners  of  authority,  they  sturdily  object  to 
much  that  others  accept  easily.  But  what  is  “ religion  ? ” 
It  is  one  of  the  vaguest  of  words.  Let  us  try  to  express 
ourselves  more  clearly.  I think  we  may  assume  that 
the  general  tendency  of  scientific  men  is  to  take  a 
“ philosophic  ” view  of  life  ; that  is,  to  show  some  dis- 
regard of  the  petty,  transient  events  which  chiefly  ab- 
sorb the  attention  of  mean  minds,  and  to  feel  most  at 
peace  when  their  thoughts  are  reposing  on  the  larger  and 
more  enduring  aspects  of  the  moral  and  material  world. 
Also,  it  would  be  easy  to  show  that  no  class  in  the  com- 
munity are  more  active  as  philanthropists  than  scientific 
men.  But  these  tendencies  do  not  cover  the  meaning  of 
the  phrase,  “ religious  bias,”  in  its  technical  sense.  So 
far  as  I understand  that  sense,  it  comprises  three  ele- 
ments : 

1.  Great  prevalence  of  the  intuitive  sentiments;  so 
much  so,  that  conflicting  matters  of  observation  are  apt 
to  be  laid  aside,  out  of  sight  and  mind.  The  intuitive 
sense  of  a supreme  God,  who  communes  with  our  hearts 


QUALITIES. 


97 


and  directs  us.  2.  A sense  of  extreme  sin  and  weak- 
ness, as  expressed  by  the  liturgical  phrases,  “No  power 
of  ourselves  to  help  ourselves,”  “ Through  the  weakness 
of  our  mortal  nature  we  can  do  no  good  thing  without 
Thee,”  etc.  3.  Revelation  of  a future  life  and  of  other 
matters  variously  interpreted  by  different  sects,  which, 
more  or  less,  satisfy  the  intuitive  sentiments. 

I did  not  enter  into  these  details  in  framing  my  ques- 
tions, but  simply  asked  in  general  terms  whether  or  no 
my  correspondents  had  a strong  religious  bias.  The  in- 
terpretation I put  on  the  answers  which  are  subjoined  is, 
that  religion,  in  the  sense  of  the  third  paragraph,  is  not 
actively  accepted  by  many  of  those  who  describe  them- 
selves as  religiously  inclined  : they  seem  singularly  care- 
less of  dogma,  and  exempt  from  mysterious  terror. 
Also,  considering  the  independence  of  their  disposition, 
their  energetic  temperament  and  healthful  physique,  I 
should  think  that  religion,  in  the  sense  of  the  second 
paragraph — that  of  feeling  sinful  and  weak — would  not 
express  the  views  of  many  of  them.  Therefore  I look 
on  the  intuitive  sentiments,  as  described  in  the  first  para- 
graph, connected  with  a philosophic  frame  of  mind  and 
a tendency  to  active  philanthropy,  as  the  most  likely 
meaning  of  the  phrase  “ religious  bias,”  when  it  is  used 
without  any  qualification  by  my  correspondents,  espe- 
cially by  those  who  are  Unitarians.  In  this  sense,  at 
least,  there  appear  to  be  about  eighteen  instances  of  sci- 
entific men  who  have  a decided  religious  bias ; being,  I 


98 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


should  estimate,  at  the  rate  of  two  or  more  in  every 
ten ; but  I am  not  able  to  state  with  certainty  how  many 
of  these  are  religious  in  the  sense  of  all  the  three  para- 
graphs. 

Religious  Sentiments  weak,  accompanied  with  more  or 
less  Skepticism. — 1.  [Being  compelled  to  attend  frequent 
chapels  at  college,  he,  for  ten  years  afterward,  refused  to 
enter  either  church  or  chapel.]  2.  “ The  negative  ten- 
dencies of  my  family  may  be  absence  of  piety  . . . .” 
3.  “ Religious  feeling  not  great.”  4.  “ Skeptical.”  5. 
“ Not  much  religious  bias  except  in  a boundless  admira- 
tion of  Nature.”  6.  “ I gave  up  common  religious  be- 
lief, almost  independently  from  my  own  reflection.”  7. 
“ Bias  toward  freedom  of  thought  in  religious  matters.” 

Intellectual  Interest  in  Religious  Topics. — 1.  “Enter- 
tamed  at  an  early  age  independent  views  regarding  the 
resurrection  and  salvation  of  the  heathen,  which  led  to 
frequent  disputes.”  2.  “ At  school  I became  a skeptic, 
and  even  worked  out,  in  my  own  somewhat  (at  that 
time)  reserved  mind,  a kind  of  idealism.  I afterward 
had  a phase  of  religious  fervor,  but  worked  through  it.” 
3.  “ Given  to  theological  ideas,  and  not  reticent  about 
them.”  4.  “ Instinctive  (or  original)  religious  bias, 
though  this  may  be  in  part  due  to  early  training.  . . . 
I take  considerable  pains  in  the  investigation  of  religions 
matters,  one  of  my  amusements  being  the  collection  of 


QUALITIES. 


99 


a considerable  theological  library,  with  the  books  of 
which  I am  familiar.” 

Dogmatic  Interest. — “ I have  no  more  doubt  about 
the  plenary  inspiration  of  Scripture  than  I have  about 
the  simplest  axiom  in  mathematics.”  [I  class  this  ex- 
ceptional reply  under  “ dogmatic  interest,”  because  the 
remainder  of  the  writer’s  brief  communication  hardly 
suggests  the  dependent  frame  of  mind  that  is  character- 
istic of  “ piety  ” — e.  g.,  “ Never  received  or  asked  a sin- 
gle favor  or  a single  farthing  for  any  thing  I ever  wrote 
or  did.”] 

Religious  Bias. — 1.  “ Religious  bias.”  2.  “Of  a re- 
ligious bias  of  thought.”  3.  “ Religious  views  liberal, 
but  strongly  anti-materialistic.”  4.  “ Early  religious 
impressions  strong,  but  have,  on  the  dogmatic  side,  quite 
disappeared.  The  belief  in  a permanent  antithesis  be- 
tween good  and  evil,  irrespective  of  utilitarian  results, 
has  survived,  with  no  keen  sense  of  the  need  of  a dog- 
matic basis  for  the  belief.”  5.  “ Much  religious  bias  of 
thought  from  early  education.”  6.  “ I have  been  the 
more  biased  toward  religion,  in  that  my  father  and  ma- 
ternal grandfather  lived  it,  and  did  not  prate  about  it.  I 
am  personally  only  a combination  of  these  two  men  in 
this  respect.  (Please  ....  take  the  sense  of  what  I 
have  Written,  and  not  the  words.)"  7.  “ Religious  bias 
of  thought  decided.”  8.  “ Although  firmly  and  thor- 


100 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


oughly  believing  in  Christianity,  and  accepting  it  as  the 
guide  of  my  life,  as  far  as  I can  understand  it,  being  also 
a regular  attendant  of  the  Church  of  England,  still  I 
cannot  admit  the  right  of  that  or  any  other  Church  to 
teach  dogmatically  what  truths  are  necessary  for  my  sal- 
vation ; and  the  feelings  which  ever  cause  me  to  resent 
any  interference  with  the  liberty  of  conscience  are  quite 
as  strong  in  me  as  they  were  in  the  breast  of  my  ances- 
tor, when  he  gave  up  the  land  of  his  birth  and  property, 
more  than  three  hundred  years  ago.”  [My  correspond- 
ent has  shown  marked  instances  of  independence  of  char- 
acter, and  is  descended  maternally  from  both  Flemish 
and  French  religious  refugees,  and  paternally  from  an 
English  Nonconformist,  who  left  his  country  and  settled 
in  America.]  9.  “ It  is  difficult  to  estimate  one’s  own 
peculiarities,  but  I believe  I may  credit  myself  with 
more  than  the  usual  amount  of  ( . . . . and)  religious 
bias  of  thought.  I have  mixed  and  worked  with  Chris- 
tians of  most  of  the  Protestant  Churches.”  10.  “Strong 
religious  feeling.  My  intention  on  entering  ....  was 
to  devote  myself  to  a missionary  life  in  China  ; but  my 
unexpected  success  in  ...  . persuaded  my  friends  to 
induce  me  to  abandon  my  purpose,  on  the  ground  that  I 
might  serve  God  better  in  my  new  sphere  at  home.  I 
yielded  to  their  arguments  with  great  reluctance.”  11. 
“ Intensely  religious ; formerly  in  the  evangelical  sense 
(a  tract  distributor,  promoter  of  prayer-meetings,  Bible- 
classes,  etc.).  Excessive  distaste  to  novels  and  fictions 


QUALITIES. 


101 


in  any  shape.”  {See  “ Indifference  to  Dogma,”  p.  103.) 
12.  “I  was  brought  up  an  ordinary  member  of  the 
. . . . Church,  but  ultimately  came  to  the  conclusion 
that  ....  was  essentially  illogical.  ...  I had  the 
happiness  of  seehig  my  mother  follow  me  into  the 
....  Church.”  [I  regret  that  I am  unable,  with  pro- 
priety, to  give  fuller  extracts  from  the  most  interesting 
and  instructive  replies  of  this  correspondent.] 

Religious  Bias,  with  Intellectual  Skepticism. — 1.  “ I 
have  not  cultivated  independence  of  judgment  in  reli- 
gious matters ; I have  shrunk  from  so  doing  in  order  to 
retain  peace  of  mind  and  leisure  for  my  varied  studies. 
2.  “ Much  religious  bias  of  thought,  but  no  respect  for 
revealed  religion  as  a base  for  such  a bias.”  3.  “ Re- 
ligious bias  toward  natural  theology  strong,  as  distin- 
guished from  dogma  of  any  kind.”  4.  “ I have,  per- 
haps, a religious  bias  from  early  habits  and  associations, 
rather  than  from  temperament ; but  I have  always  had 
more  pleasure  in  sacred  than  in  secular  music,  which, 
perhaps,  shows  the  predominance  of  the  emotional  ten- 
dency.” 5.  “ A profound  religious  tendency,  capable  of 
fanaticism,  but  tempered  by  no  less  profound  theologi- 
cal skepticism.” 

Next,  as  regards  the  effect  of  dogmatic  teaching,  or 
of  “ creed, “ on  research.  I had  expected  it  to  have  been 
much  more  deterrent  and  hindering  than  the  answers 
warrant.  The  suicide  of  the  geologist,  Hugh  Miller, 


102 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


whose  brain  gave  way  under  the  conflict  between  dog- 
matic creed  and  scientific  doubt,  is  a terrible  tale.  One 
would  have  thought  that  the  anathemas  from  the  pulpits 
against  most  new  scientific  discoveries,  as  soon  as  they 
became  capable  of  popular  application,  such  as  geologi- 
cal history,  antiquity  of  man,  and  Darwinism,  must  have 
deterred  many ; and,  as  I have  already  shown,  few  of 
the  sons  of  clergymen  are  on  my  list.  Nevertheless,  in 
answer  to  my  direct  inquiry,  “ Has  the  religious  creed 
taught  in  your  youth  had  a deterrent  effect  on  the  free- 
dom of  your  researches  1 ” I am  met  with  an  overpower- 
ing majority  of  negatives.  Seven  or  eight  say  “ no,” 
justifying  their  assertion  by  various  reasons,  to  one  who 
says  “ yes,”  as  is  shown  by  the  appended  replies.  These 
may  be  sorted  into  the  four  following  groups  : 

(1)  “No”  deterrent  effect — 39  cases.  (2)  “None,” 
with  emphasis — 12  cases.  Examples:  “None  whatev- 
er ; ” “ not  in  the  least ; ” “ not  in  the  slightest ; ” “ de- 
cidedly not;”  “ certainly  not.”  (3)  “ None,”  with  vari- 
ous classes  of  reasons  why  it  had  not — 14  cases.  (4) 
Has  had  a good,  and  not  a bad  effect — 8 cases. 

Further  specimens  of  the  first  two  groups  “ no,” 
with  or  without  emphasis,  are  needless ; but  I will  give 
extracts  from  the  remainder,  divided  under  convenient 
heads. 

Have  no  Dread  of  Inquiry. — 1.  “ I do  not  think  so. 
At  the  time  when  I held  strongly  the  ....  dogmatic 


QUALITIES. 


103 


system  I never  could  apprehend  any  dread  of  the  results 
of  free  inquiry.”  2.  “ None  whatever.  Absolute  and 
fearless  faith  in  the  truth.”  3.  “ I was  left  free  to 
choose  my  own  religion,  and  believe  that  there  is  no  real 
antagonism  between  revealed  religion  and  the  study  of 
Nature.”  . 

Religion  and  Science  have  Different  Spheres.  — 1. 
“ No  ; it  [religious  creed]  has  no  point  of  contact  with 
chemistry.” 

Indifference  to  Dogma. — 1.  “ Not  hi  the  slightest  de- 
gree ; but  the  method  of  science  has  taught  me  not  to 
put  any  confidence  hi  creeds  or  dogmatic  statements  of 
any  kind.”  [This  correspondent  is  the  tract-distributor, 
etc.,  of  (11)  of  those  having  “ religious  bias,”  in  p.  100.] 

Liberality  of  Early  Religious  Teaching. — 1.  “None. 
The  teaching  was  not  severe  or  exclusive  in  any  degree  ; 
it  was  the  ordinary  teaching  of  the  Church  of  England.” 
2.  “ My  religious  creed  from  infancy  was  that  of  free- 
dom. I was  not  taught  creed  or  dogma,  and  had  there- 
fore the  great  advantage  of  not  having  to  fight  my  way 
out  of  darkness  into  light.”  3.  “ I learned  no  creed 
in  my  youth.”  4.  “ I had  no  religious  instruction  at 
school.”  5.  “ No  ; freedom  of  thought  was  always 
made  a part  of  the  creed  practically  taught  me.”  6. 
“ No  religious  creed  was  ever  taught  to  me.”  7.  “ None 
whatever.  In  fact,  no  creed  was  taught  me.”  8.  “ My 


104 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


religious  freedom  has  enabled  me  to  look  every  scientific 
question  fairly  in  the  face.”  0.  “ There  was  no  religious 
coercive  education  at  home,  notwithstanding  my  mother’s 
strong  personal  religious  bent.  On  the  contrary,  her 
influence  was  quite  in  the  direction  of  free  inquiry,  in 
which  she  largely  indulged  herself.  My  school  religious 
teaching  had  no  effect  that  I can  perceive,  either  onmy 
intellect  or  imagination.  Its  chief  result  was  to  make 
me  detest  the  drudgery  of  learning  catechisms  and  sit- 
ting through  dreary  sermons.” 

[2,  3,  6,  7,  8,  are  children  of  Unitarian  parents.] 

Have  tarty  abandoned  Creeds. — 1.  “At  the  age  of 
thirteen  I disbelieved,  as  thoroughly  as  I do  now,  the 
religious  creed  (that  of  the  Church  of  England)  in  which 
I was  brought  up  ; and  I had  realized  Berkeleyan  ideal- 
ism by  my  own  road.”  [Compare  this  with  the  reply, 
2,  from  a different  correspondent,  in  p.  98  in  the  sec- 
tion “ Intellectual  Interest  in  Religious  Topics .”]  2. 

“ None  whatever  ; I have  long  since  wholly  rejected  re- 
ligious creeds.”  3.  “ I gave  up  common  religious  belief 
almost  independently  from  my  own  reflection.”  [Tins 
quotation  -is  repeated  from  the  last  section.  The  wri- 
ter’s reply  to  the  question  of  which  we  are  now  speak- 
ing was  a simple  “ no,”  and  has  been  classified  as  such.] 

The  Religious  Creed  has  had  a Good  Effect  on  Free- 
dom of  Research. — 1.  “ None  [i.  e.,  no  deterrent  effect]  ; 


QUALITIES. 


105 


rather  the  contrary.”  2.  “ On  the  contrary.”  3. 
“ Quite  the  reverse.”  4.  “ I think  none  whatever.  I 
have  had  to  overcome  some  prejudices,  hut  my  true  reli- 
gious life  has  been  cognate  with  my  scientific  one,  and  the 
former  has  stimulated  rather  than  crippled  the  latter.” 
5.  “ Certainly  not ! On  the  contrary,  it  has  had  clearly 
the  very  best  effect.”  6.  “ Not  a deterrent  effect ; but 
it  acted  as  a guide.”  7.  “ Never  deterred  ; now  acts  as  a 
direct  stimulant,  since  it  appears  to  me  that  the  cultiva- 
tion of  a naturally-implanted  intellectual  tendency  is  a 
religious  duty.  . . . The  most  pernicious  influence  to 
which  I was  subjected  was  that  arising  from  J.  Stuart 
Mill.  It  took  me  a long  time  to  work  through  the  sen- 
sationalist, empirical  philosophy,  and  to  come  out  at  the 
other  side.”  8.  “ No ; but  the  scientific  system  incul- 
cated long  prevented  me  giving  my  religious  feelings 
and  aspirations  full  sway.” 

Has  had  some  Deterrent  Effect. — 1.  “ Certainly  the 
narrow  ....  ism  of  early  youth  made  me  for  a long 
time  a timid  thinker.”  2.  “ To  a certain  extent,  yes — 
not  in  philosophical  research  ; but  I shrink  from  the  dis- 
turbance of  mind  (not  fear  of  ultimate  consequences) 
which  I know  would  follow  diving  into  certain  questions 
of  the  day,  connected  with  early  religious  teachings.” 
3.  “ No ; for  some  time  it  may  have  hindered  me.” 
4 “ It  certainly  would  have  had  that  tendency,  though 
not  that  effect,  if  my  researches  had  taken  certain  direc- 


106 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


tions.”  5.  “Would  have  been  so  had  I not  fought 
against  it.”  6.  “ The  ‘ Biblical  faith  ’ prevented  my 
getting  good  geological  views  for  many  years,  by  hav- 
ing set  my  thoughts  in  the  old  grooves,  and  thus  limited 
them.”  7.  “ I think  not.  I emancipated  myself  from 
dogmatic  trammels  early  in  life,  but  not  without  a strug- 
gle.” 8.  “After  about  ten  years’  careful  consideration 
of  the  facts,  called  by  theology  * seeming  contradictions 
of  science,’  I finally  discarded  the  pentateuchal  spectacles 
through  which  I had  previously  looked  at  certain  phe- 
nomena. I lay  to  early  theological  teaching  so  much 
hinder ance  in  the  quest  of  the  most  precious  of  our  pos- 
sessions— truth.” 


TRUTHFULNESS. 

A curiosity  about  facts  is  much  spoken  of  and  im- 
plied in  the  answers  to  my  questions ; in  a few  cases  it 
is  combined  with  a curious  repugnance  to  works  of 
avowed  fiction.  A hunger  for  truth  is  a frequent  in- 
gredient in  the  disposition  of  the  abler  men  of  every 
career ; but  in  all  probability  it  is  felt  most  strongly 
and  continuously  by  men  of  science.  The  most  clearly- 
marked  characteristic  of  scientific  society  seems  to  me 
to  lie  in  the  careful  accuracy  with  which  facts  and  anec- 
dotes of  all  kinds  are  related.  I have  the  good  fortune 
to  be  acquainted  with  a large  family  circle  whose  curi- 
osity about  facts  and  practice  of  scrupulous  and,  so  to 
speak,  artistic  truthfulness,  continually  excite  my  admi 


QUALITIES. 


107 


ration.  It  has  not  unfrequently  happened  to  me  to  hear 
a remark  or  statement,  which  I had  made  to  one  of  its 
members,  alluded  to  by  another,  in  which  case  I have 
been  usually  astonished  at  the  precision  with  which  it 
was  repeated.  The  repetition  of  the  statement  retained 
the  precise  shade  of  sense  that  I originally  intended  to 
convey,  yet  it  was  almost  always  presented  in  a simpler 
and  more  striking  form.  The  essentials  had  been  truth- 
fully adhered  to  ; the  non-essentials  were  pruned  off  and 
the  language  was  improved.  The  rarity  of  a faculty 
like  this  is  easily  tested  by  the  experience  of  the  well- 
known  game  of  “ Russian  Scandal,”  and  has  probably 
been  impressed  on  most  of  us  when  we  have  discovered 
some  misrepresentation  of  what  we  did  or  said.  Truth- 
fulness of  expression  adds  greatly  to  the  charm  of  life  ; 
it  gives  a grateful  sense  of  confidence  toward  those  who 
are  distinguished  for  it,  and  it  makes  conversation  more 
real  and  far  more  interesting.  There  is  an  exact  parallel 
between  truthfulness  of  expression  in  speech  and  that  of 
delineation  in  drawing.  In  the  earliest  sketch  it  is  far 
better  to  be  hard  in  outline  than  inaccurate.  Subse- 
quent touching  up  can  smooth  away  the  hardness ; but 
there  exists  no  proper  material  to  work  upon  when  there 
was  carelessness  in  the  first  design. 


6 


CHAPTER  III. 

ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE. 

Preliminary — Extracts  at  length — Analysis  ; Innate  tastes — Fortu- 
nate accidents — Indirect  motives  or  opportunities — Professional 
duties — Encouragement  at  home — Influence  and  encouragement 
of  friends — Influence  and  encouragement  of  tutors — Travel  in 
distant  parts — Unclassed  residuum — Summary — Partial  failures. 

What  were  the  motives  that  first  induced  the  men 
on  my  list  to  occupy  themselves  with  science  ? 

A question  such  as  this  may  seem  hard  to  answer, 
except  in  very  general  terms.  Those  who  are  hut  little 
versed  in  statistics  may  he  daunted  hy  reflecting  on  the 
infinite  diversity  of  characters  and  antecedents ; while 
those  who  are,  will  he  less  easily  discouraged.  Reiter- 
ated experience  will  have  shown  them  how  surely,  in 
every  case  with  which  they  have  dealt,  the  great  major- 
ity of  causes,  or  what  might  he  better  named  “ pre- 
efficients,”  admitted  of  being  analyzed  and  grouped  into 
natural  orders,  leaving  a minority  of  unclassed  influ- 
ences, which  themselves  form  a class  of  their  own,  and 


OBI  GIF  OF  TASTE  FOB  SCIENCE.  109 


which  can  be  reduced  indefinitely,  in  proportion  to  the 
minuteness  with  which  the  statistician  cares  to  pursue  his 
analysis.  The  statistics  of  railway  accidents  will  serve 
as  an  example.  When  Captain  Douglas  Galton  was  sec- 
retary of  the  railway  department  of  the  Board  of  Trade, 
he  succeeded  in  sorting  their  causes  into  the  groups  in 
which  we  have  since  been  accustomed  to  see  them  print- 
ed year  after  year.  So  long  as  the  general  system  of 
management  of  a railway  is  little  changed,  the  same 
statistical  ratio  is  maintained  among  them,  a given  pro- 
portion of  accidents  being  due  to  this  cause,  and  another 
to  that.  We  may  therefore  estimate  with  some  certain- 
ty the  saving  of  life  and  limb,  or  of  material  of  various 
descriptions,  that  will  be  effected  when  any  one  of  these 
causes  shall  be  wholly  or  in  part  removed.  Similarly 
my  aim  is  to  group  the  influences  which  first  urged  the 
men  on  my  list  to  pursue  what  afterward  became  their 
favorite  occupation.  We  shall  learn  the  relative  im- 
portance of  these  influences,  and  be  enabled  to  estimate, 
with  greater  precision  than  before,  the  value  of  proposed 
methods  for  making  the  pursuit  of  science  more  com- 
mon than  at  present. 

The  returns  I am  about  to  quote  are  replies  to  the 
following  questions  : “ Can  you  trace  the  origin  of  your 
interest  in  science  in  general,  and  in  your  particular 
branch  of  it  % How  far  do  your  scientific  tastes  appear 
to  have  been  innate  1 ” 


110 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


The  answers  were  of  unequal  length  and  minuteness. 
From  the  longer  ones  I have  extracted  what  was  essen- 
tial, and  in  these  and  in  the  rest  I have  taken  a very  few 
editorial  liberties,  as  already  mentioned. 

At  this  stage  of  the  inquiry  it  becomes  advisable  to 
separate  the  replies  according  to  the  branch  of  science 
pursued  by  those  who  made  them.  I have  not  kept 
geography  separate,  because  there  are  not  many  geogra- 
phers on  my  list,  and  those  who  were,  admitted  of  being 
sorted  under  other  titles.  With  this  exception,  the 
divisions  I have  adopted  are  much  the  same  as  those  of 
the  various  sections  and  sub-sections  of  the  British  Asso- 
ciation. 

Some  doubt  may  be  felt  as  to  how  far  the  replies 
may  be  trusted.  For  my  own  part,  I believe  they  are 
substantially  correct,  judging  principally  from  hiternal 
evidence,  and  partly  from  having  questioned  different 
members  of  several  families,  and  finding  their  opinions 
corroborative.  The  greatest  difficulty  I have  had  in  my 
inquiries  generally  is  due  to  reticence  on  the  part  of  the 
writers,  who  say  nothing  when  much  was  to  be  said ; 
but  even  this  does  not  affect  relative  results.  Again, 
many  men  are  conceited  ; still  the  forms  in  which  con- 
ceit shows  itself  do  not  much  affect  those  results.  Thus, 
a too  emphatic  narration  of  early  achievements  does  not 
distort  their  mutual  proportions.  If  men  are  too  proud 
to  acknowledge  their  indebtedness  to  natural  gifts,  the 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  Ill 


relative  value  they  ascribe  to  motives  remains  un- 
changed. I am  astonished  at  the  unconscious  vanity 
which  I have  elsewhere  met  with  when  making  inquiries 
in  heredity,  shown  by  men  who,  owing  enormously  to 
natural  gifts,  wish  to  accredit  their  own  free-will  with 
being  the  real  cause  of  their  success.  One  phase  of 
this  form  of  vanity  is  prominently  illustrated  by  the  late 
John  Stuart  Mill,  in  his  strange  and  sad  autobiography, 
who  declares  (p.  30)  that  he  was  rather  below  par  in 
quickness,  memory,  and  energy,  and  that  any  boy  or 
girl  of  average  capacity  and  healthy  physical  constitu- 
tion, who  was  properly  taught,  could  make  as  rapid 
progress  in  learning  as  he  did  himself  ! As  regards  the 
scientific  men,  I find,  as  I had  expected,  vanity  to  be  at  a 
minimum,  and  their  returns  to  bear  all  the  marks  of  a 
cool  and  careful  self-analysis.  My  bias  has  always  been 
in  favor  of  men  of  science,  believing  them  to  be  espe- 
cially manly,  honest,  and  truthful,  and  the  result  of  this 
inquiry  has  confirmed  that  bias. 

The  influences  and  motives  which  urged  the  men  on 
my  list  to  occupy  themselves  with  science  fall  under  the 
heads  given  on  the  succeeding  page.  I have  distin- 
guished each  head  by  a letter,  and  added  to  each  re- 
ply the  letters  that  seemed  appropriate  to  its  contents. 
The  replies  are  subsequently  analyzed  according  to  these 
letters. 


112 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


SIGNIFICATION  OF  THE  LETTERS. 

Number  of 
Instances. 


a.  59 

b.  11 

c.  19 

d.  24 

e.  34 

/.  20 

ff.  13 

h.  8 

z.  3 


Innate  tastes  (mem : not  necessarily  hereditary). 
Fortunate  accidents.  It  will  be  noticed  that  these  gen- 
erally testify  to  the  existence  of  an  innate  taste. 
Indirect  opportunities  and  indirect  motives. 
Professional  influences  to  exertion. 

Encouragement  at  home  of  scientific  inclinations. 
Influence  and  encouragement  of  private  friends  and 
acquaintances. 

Influence  and  encouragement  of  teachers. 

Travel  in  distant  regions. 

Residual  influences,  unclassed. 


EXTRACTS  AT  LENGTH. 

PHYSICS. 

(1) *  “ My  tastes  are  entirely  innate  ; they  date  from 
childhood  ” (a). 

(2)  “As  far  hack  as  I can  remember,  I loved  Nature 
and  desired  to  learn  her  secrets,  and  have  spent  my 
whole  life  in  searching  for  them.  While  a school-boy,  I 
taught  myself  botany,  chemistry,  etc.  . . . under  great 
difficulties.  I had  no  teacher  except  a kind  apothecary, 
whose  knowledge  was  limited  ” (a). 

(3)  “ From  a youth  I always  preferred  the  man  of 
marked  ability  to  the  man  of  action  alone.  Thrown  for 
so  many  years  of  my  professional  life  among  men  chief- 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  113 


ly  of  the  latter  class,  and  my  sympathies  being  more 
drawn  toward  those  in  the  decided  minority,  my  tastes 
were,  I conceive,  not  acquired,  but  innate.  In  the  early 
days  of  my  professional  career  I gained  the  friendship 
of  . . . of  the  highest  professional  standing,  whose 
acquired  general  knowledge  and  love  of  science  and  ob- 
servation were  far  beyond  those  of  the  ordinary  . . . . 
of  his  time.  I was  both  his  young  friend  and  favorite 
assistant  for  three  years.  He  imbued  me  with  his  re- 
spect for  science,  and  formed  my  character  for  earnest- 
ness and  accuracy.  ...  To  some  extent  my  tastes  were 
determined  by  events  after  manhood ; because  in  ...  . 
extending  over  ten  years,  I held  positions  of  great  re- 
sponsibility [in  different  parts  of  the  world]  ; but  I con- 
sider my  scientific  tastes  were  formed  hi  youth,  that  is, 
from  sixteen  to  twenty-one  years  of  age  ” (a,  f}  7i). 

(4)  “ From  an  early  age  I was  addicted  to  mechani- 
cal pursuits.  In  the  last  few  years  of  my  school-days  I 
took  to  chemistry.  Entered  ....  college,  expecting, 
after  two  or  three  years  there,  to  [join  a relative’s]  busi- 
ness as  calico-printer,  and  gave  especial  attention  to 
chemistry  on  that  account.  ...  I had  never  attended 
specially  to  physics  until  appointed  professor  of  natural 
philosophy.  . . . [This  and  subsequent  similar  advance- 
ment] determined  me  to  devote  myself  thenceforward 
definitely  to  physics,  and  not  to  try  for  a chemical  ap- 
pointment . . . (a,  d ). 


114 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


(5)  “ Naturally  fond  of  mechanics  and  of  physical 
science,  in  which  all  my  study  has  taken  the  direction  of 
those  departments  hearing  on  . . . owing  to  my  feel- 
ing that,  through  the  possession  of  special  instruments 
for  investigations  hi  it,  I could  work  to  greater  advan- 
tage ; not  from  any  natural  preference  for  ....  over 
the  other  departments  of  physical  science  ” (a,  c). 

(6)  “ My  tastes  were  partly  natural,  partly  encour- 
aged by  an  eminent  friend  . . . .,  who  had  been  honored 
himself  by  the  friendship  of  most  of  the  leading  men  of 
science  in  the  early  part  of  this  century.”  (a,  /). 

(7)  [Yes.]  “ I remember  [incidents  which  proved 
an  innate  taste  quoted  at  length]  before  I could  write, 
[but]  I believe  the  origin  of  my  pursuit  of  physical  sci- 
ence was  when  I attended  the  natural  philosophy  class  at 
. . . . I was  intended  for  business,  but,  conceiving  a dis- 
taste for  it,  I left  it,  and  attached  myself  to  science  ” 
(a,  9)- 

(8)  “ I cannot  say,  except  that  I had  an  innate  wish 
for  miscellaneous  information.  My  interest  in  science 
arose  from  the  chance  circumstance  of  my  choosing  civil 
engineering  as  a profession,  and  having  spare  time,  when 
studying  at  . . . .,  which  I devoted  to  ...  . My  scien- 
tific tastes  were  subsequently  determined  by  my  not 
having  any  profession,  except  civil  engineering,  which  I 
never  followed  ” (c). 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  115 


(9)  “ Ocean-voyaging  in  beginning  of  life.  Solitary 
observing  for  years  in  an  observatory,  placed  in  a coun- 
try verging  on  a desert,  but  under  southern  skies  rich  in 
stars  unknown  to  the  ancients,  and  not  appreciated  by 
the  moderns  ” (d,  h). 

(10)  “ The  origin  of  my  interest  iu  science  is  mainly 
due  to  my  father’s  knowledge  of  geology,  navigation, 
and  engineering.  My  scientific  tastes  were  confirmed  by 
lectures,  by  ...  . and  ....  and  . . . .,  and  es- 
pecially by  the  encouragement  of  the  latter  ” (e,  g ). 

(11)  “Primarily  derived  [both  by  inheritance  and 
education]  from  my  father”  (a,  e ). 

(12)  “My  first  start  was  reading  a child’s  story, 
called  the  ‘ Ghost,’  where  a philosophical  elder  brother 
cures  his  younger  brother  of  superstition,  by  showing 
him  experiments  with  phosphorus,  electricity,  etc.  This 
set  me  on  making  an  electrical  machine  with  an  apothe- 
cary’s phial,  etc.  I was  then  about  twelve  years  old. 
My  grandfather  had  scientific  tastes  to  some  degree. 
My  grandmother’s  brother  ....  was  a good  amateur 
chemist  and  astronomer;  He  was  a well-known  leader 
of  musical,  and,  to  some  extent,  of  scientific  society,  at 
” (a). 

(13)  “ A mathematical  tendency,  I think,  led  me  first 
toward  ....  inquiry,  to  which  I have  been  faithful 


116 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


ever  since.  Professional  duties  and  civil  engineering 
kept  up  a disposition  to  appreciate  the  material  constitu- 
ents of  the  world,  and  led,  through  surveying,  in  the 
direction  of  physical  geography.  The  distinct  origin  of 
my  desire  to  place  myself  among  scientific  students  was 
the  wonderful  impression  produced  on  me  by  the  aspect 
of  Nature,  as  seen  in  the  . . . combined  with  what  I 
may  call  the  accident  of  my  having  been  allowed  to  ex- 
plore a part  of  it  in  an  official  capacity.  Having  thus 
made  rather  large  botanical  and  geological  collections,  I 
came  to  England  with  them,  and,  while  employed  in 
arranging  and  distributing  them,  picked  up  a certain 
rather  irregular  and  unsystematic  scientific  education,  in 
the  company  of  ...  . and  others.  Forced  back  into 
professional  life,  special  scientific  inquiry  has  not  been 
possible ; but  I have  had  opportunities  of  aiding  the 
progress  of  science,  which  I have  endeavored  to  make 
the  best  of  ” (a,  d,  f,  h). 

(14)  “ Largely  determined  by  my  service  in  north- 
polar  and  equatorial  expeditions  ” (d,  h). 

(15)  “I  am  not  aware  of  an}-  innate  taste  for  sci- 
ence. I can  only  remember  in  boyhood  the  influence  of 
the  Philosophical  Society  of  . . . .,  and  of  a juvenile 
philosophical  society  in  which  I took  interest.  My  in- 
terest in  astronomy,  especially,  was  very  small  indeed, 
until  I was  appointed  [to  the  directorship  of  an  observa- 
tory] ” (d). 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  117 


Mathematical  Sub-section. 

(10)  “ I always  regarded  mathematics  as  the  method 
of  obtaining  the  best  shapes  and  dimensions  of  things  ; 
and  this  meant  not  only  the  most  useful  and  economical, 
but  chiefly  the  most  harmonious  and  the  most  beautiful. 
....  I was  taken  to  see  . . . .,  and  so,  with  the  help 
of  Brewster’s  £ Optics  ’ and  a glazier’s  diamond,  I worked 
at  polarization  of  light,  cutting  crystals,  tempering  glass, 
etc.  I should  naturally  have  become  an  advocate  by 
profession,  with  scientific  proclivities,  but  the  existence 
of  exclusively  scientific  men,  and  in  particular  of  . . . ., 
convinced  my  father  and  myself  that  a profession  was 
not  necessary  to  a useful  life  ” ( a , e,  /). 

(17)  “ My  taste  for  mathematics  appears  innate. 
As  a boy,  I delighted  in  sums.  I trace  the  origin  of  my 
interest  in  general  science  to  my  acquaintance,  with 
. . . .,  which  dates  from  the  time  when  I was  about 
fifteen  years  of  age.  I taught  myself  in  mathemat- 
ics and  chemistry  during  my  apprenticeship  to  a civil 
engineer  and  land-surveyor,  and  subsequently  studied 
. . . . [abroad].  My  scientific  tastes  were  largely  de- 
veloped through  my  first  going  [to  the  Continent]  with 
” (*,/). 

(18)  “ An  early  taste  for  arithmetic,  and  in  particu- 
lar for  long-division  sums  ” (a). 


118 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


(19)  [The  following  is  an  extract  from  biographical 
notes  kindly  communicated  to  me  of  the  late  Archibald 
Smith  :]  “ Yachting  would  give  an  interest  to  all  nauti- 
cal matters,  and  the  intimacy  of  his  father  with  . . . . 
gave  a bias  toward  magnetism.  In  a letter  to  one  of  his 
sisters  (no  date,  I about  1838),  he  says:  {.  . . . told  me 
lie  was  going  to  write  directions  for  ships,  finding  and 
allowing  for  the  error  caused  by  the  local  attraction  of 
ships.  So,  for  my  own  amusement  and  partly  to  help 
him,  I wrote  a set  of  instructions  and  gave  them  to  him.’ 
His  mind  was  thus  turned  to  the  subject.  I think  it 
was  natural  to  him  to  inquire  into  the  reason  of  things. 
Fond  of  figures  when  a boy  ” (a,  b,  c,  /). 

(20)  “ My  interest  in  mathematics  began  at  ...  . 
[university],  and  was  mainly  due  to  the  energy  and 

encouragement  of  my  tutor  . . . . ; but  Prof 

first  inspired  me  with  the  sense  of  the  magnificence  of 
mathematics”  (y). 

CHEMISTRY. 

(1)  “Thoroughly  innate.  My  first  taste  for  chemis- 
try dates  from  the  possession  of  a chemical  box,  when  I 
was  a little  boy.  Whenever  I had  a chance  of  turning 
from  other  studies  to  natural  science,  I always  turned. 
I liked  play  better  than  all  other  work,  and  chemistry 
better  than  play”  (a,  b). 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  119 


(2)  “ Perhaps  'wholly  innate.  My  first  notions  of 

chemistry  were  picked  up  from  books,  and  I got  the 
nickname  of  ‘ experimentalizer  ’ at  school.  jNIy  taste  for 
zoology  arose  through  friendship  with  ....  My  tastes 
were  largely  determined  by  three  years’  voluntary  work 
at  chemistry,  under  Dr ” (a,  /). 

(3)  “ I was  always  observing  and  inquiring,  and  this 
disposition  was  never  checked  nor  ridiculed  in  my  child- 
hood. My  taste  for  chemistry  dates  from  the  lectures  I 
attended  as  a boy,  and  to  the  permission  to  carry  on 
little  experiments  at  home  in  a room  set  apart  for  the 
purpose.  I was  encouraged  in  my  tastes  at  home.  Sub- 
sequent determining  events  were  my  residing  abroad, 
and  my  mother  making  a home  for  me  there  ” ( a , b,  e). 

(4)  “ They  date  from  a very  early  period,  and  there 
was  little  to  produce  them  in  my  early  surroundings. 
As  a small  boy  I was  fond  of  reading  books  bearing  on 
natural  science.  I was  taught  at  home  with  my  broth- 
ers, and  was  partially  self-taught  also.  We  had  always 
the  example  of  industry,  and  were  encouraged  to  think 
for  ourselves.  I first  studied  chemistry  at  ...  . Col- 
lege” (a,  e ). 

(5)  “ From  an  early  age  I had  an  innate  taste  for  all 
branches  of  natural  science.  As  a boy,  I made  large 
collections  of  dried  plants,  minerals,  beetles,  butterflies, 


4 


120  ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 

stuffed  birds,  etc.  At  ....  I studied  without  regard 
to  future  profession  for  two  years,  and  only  took  up 
chemistry  as  a special  study  on  my  third  year’s  resi- 
dence there”  ( a , c). 

(6)  “ I cannot  trace  the  origin.  I began  to  study 
chemistry  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  and  pursued  it  at  such 
times  as  my  duties  in  ...  . gave  me  leisure,  and  with- 
out any  instructor.  The  obtaining  of  correct  and  accu- 
rate results  in  chemical  analysis  gave  me  great  satisfac- 
tion” (c). 

(7)  “ Scarcely  innate.  I ascribe  the  origin  of  my 
scientific  interests  chiefly  to  being  sent  as  a pupil  to 

an  eminent  man  of  science,  Prof Subsequently 

I was  a good  deal  abstracted  from  scientific  pursuits  by 
an  early  and  lasting  friendship  with  . . . .,  who  directed 
my  thoughts  to  public  work”  (y). 

(8)  “ I watched,  at  school,  the  building  of  a steam- 
engine  at  a factory,  and  completely  got  up  the  whole 
engine.  This  gave  my  mind  a start.  . . . My  father 
gave  me  ‘ Henry’s  Chemistry  ; ’ that,  and  afterward 
‘ Turner’s  Chemistry,’  were  more  interesting  to  me  than 
any  books  of  fiction.  ...  I believe  at  one  time  I read 
little  else  but  ‘ Turner’s  Chemistry  ’ and  books  of  poetry 
in  whatever  holiday  I had.  ...  I owe  to  my  mother  a 
child’s  curiosity  and  afterward  a man’s  reverence  for  sci- 
entific truth.  I cannot  tell  if  my  scientific  tastes  were 


0 Pd  GIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  121 


innate.  The  university,  inviting  me  to  fill  the  . . . . 
chair,  gave  my  work  its  bent.  . . .”  (d,  e ). 

(9)  “ I can  trace  my  interest  in  chemistry  to  reading 
by  accident  a book  upon  it  ” (6). 

(10)  “I  did  nothing,  even  ^wasi-scientific,  till  after 
leaving  college ; nothing  serious  till  the  age  of  twenty- 
three.  My  pursuit  of  chemistry  is  entirely  due  to  cir- 
cumstances occurring  after  manhood,  and  in  direct  oppo- 
sition to  family  influences”  {z). 

(11)  “To  the  opportunity  afforded  for  study  of  sci- 
ence at  ...  . My  tastes  received  no  encouragement 
whatever  from  relations,  my  mother  excepted”  (e,  z). 

GEOLOGY. 

(1)  “ Decidedly  innate  as  regards  coins  and  fossils. 
My  father  and  an  aunt  collected  coins  and  geological 
specimens,  and  I have  both  coins  and  specimens  which 
have  been  in  my  possession  since  I was  nine  years  old. 
Subsequently  my  pursuits  were  influenced  to  some  ex- 
tent by  the  discoveries  in  . . . .,  but  at  that  time  I had 
already  a considerable  collection”  (a,  c,  e ). 

(2)  “A  natural  taste  for  observing  and  generalizing, 
developed  by  noticing  the  fossiliferous  rocks  which  hap- 
pened to  occur  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  school  where  I 


122 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


was.  Afterward  the  surgeon  to  whom  I was  articled,  who 
had  an  observant  mind,  fostered  my  tastes”  (a,  b,  f ). 

(3)  “ A natural  taste.  My  interest  in  science  began 
very  early,  originating  in  a love  of  experiment,  at  first 
in  chemistry.  . . . The  ultimate  direction  of  my  scien- 
tific tastes  dates  after  the  completion  of  my  regular  edu- 
cation” (a,  c). 

(4)  “ I believe  I may  say  innate,  to  a very  consider- 

able extent,  not  remembering  that  any  definite  steps 
were  taken  to  inculcate  science.  I was  indebted  in  a 
high  degree  to  collections  made  by  my  father  and  moth- 
er, in  . . . .,  and  to  early  familiarity  with  charts  of 
those  seas,  and  conversations  on  matters  pertaining  there- 
to ; afterward,  to  going  to  Germany  and  finding  in  the 
mining  officers  a body  of  men  receiving  a regular  scien- 
tific education  ; lastly,  to  a great  extent  by  going  for  a 
winter  to  ....  [hi  Germany],  and  by  conversations 
with  ....  and  (a,  e, /). 

(5)  “ I was  always  fond  of  natural  history  ; collect- 
ed plants,  insects,  and  birds,  at  [school]  and  fossils  at 
[college],  where  . . . ,’s  lectures  attracted  me  to  geol- 
ogy, and  subsequently,  by  the  acquaintance  of  Prof. 
. . . .,  to  the  particular  branch  [of  it  which  I have  pur- 
sued] ” (a,  f,  g). 

(6)  “ As  well  as  I cau  recollect,  they  were  innate.  I 
remember,  as  a boy  of  six,  seeing  a spring  in  Lavender 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  123 


Hill ; not  being  satisfied  at  the  explanation,  and  deter- 
mining to  work  it  out  for  myself.  I believe  that  I 
should  have  devoted  myself  to  chemistry  and  physics, 
but  that  I was  started,  as  a youth  of  nineteen,  to  travel 
ten  months  out  of  the  twelve  on  business,  and  so  contin- 
ued for  twenty  years.  This  led  to  my  visiting  all  Great 
Britain,  and  to  great  opportunities  for  geologizing,  and 
determined  me  to  that  study.  I worked  hard  at  busi- 
ness all  day  (a  very  anxious  business),  and  at  evening 
and  night  would  work  hard  at  chemistry  and  geology. 
I found  a wonderful  relief  in  science”  (a,  c). 

(7)  “ I believe  the  desire  for  information  and  habits 
of  observation  to  be  in  a great  measure  innate.  They 
were  first  developed  by  a little  elementary  teaching  in 
physics  and  chemistry,  at  school,  between  the  ages  of 
seven  and  thirteen.  I worked  alone  at  science  at  home, 
from  the  age  of  eleven  years,  where  I was  encouraged 
by  the  example  of  an  elder  brother.  Subsequently,  my 
pursuits  were  much  influenced  by  being  thrown,  at  the 
age  of  nineteen,  on  my  own  judgment  and  resources.  I 
founded  a mining  colony  in  the  backwoods  of  . . . ., 
and  had  to  carry  it  out  with  several  thousand  people, 
quite  alone”  (a,  e,  h). 

(8)  . I was  always  apt  to  observe  stones 
closely  with  regard  to  their  qualities”  [but  the  scien- 
tific taste  for  geology  was  not  developed  till  after  man- 
hood] (z). 


124 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


BIOLOGY. 

Zoological  Sub-section. 

(1)  [Yes.]  “ Inherited  from  my  father’s  family,  -who 

have  generally  been  attached  to  natural  history  [espe- 
cially botany ; most  remarkable  examples  are  given]. 
My  scientific  tastes  were  largely  determined  by  being 
appointed  . . . (a,  d , e). 

(2)  “ Certainly  innate.  . . . Strongly  confirmed  and 

directed  by  the  voyage  in  the  . . . (a,  h). 

(3)  “ Love  of  observation  and  natural  history  in- 
nate ; [I  had  them]  as  early  as  I can  remember.  My 
grandfather  Avas  very  fond  of  natural  history,  and  a 
[more  distant]  relative  has  written  an  excellent  fauna  of 
. . . . The  help  of  Mr.  . . . has  aided  me  immensely, 
but  not,  I think,  altered  my  tendency”  (a,  e,f). 

(4)  “ Homology  innate,  and  derived  from  my  moth- 

er. I trace  the  origin  of  my  interest  in  science  decided- 
ly to  my  mother’s  observations  in  our  childhood  ram- 
bles, on  the  plants  and  animals  Ave  suav.  She  told  me 
that  crabs  Avere  ‘sea-spiders,’  and  perhvinkles  ( Littorince ) 
‘ sea-snails.’  I feel  sure  she  had  never  read  ‘ De  Mail- 
let  ! ’ . . . ( a , e ). 

(5)  “I  believe  I inherited  my  general  taste  for  scien- 
tific pursuits  from  my  grandmother  ; but  my  choosing 
. . . . for  special  investigation  resulted  from  a positive 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  125 


fascination  which  the  very  obscurity  of  the  subject  ex- 
erted upon  my  mind.  It  was  perhaps  a mere  desire  to 
unravel  the  marvelous.  My  scientific  tastes  were  large- 
ly promoted  by  the  attractive  teachmg  of  [ . . . . vari- 
ous professors]  ” (a,  c,  e,  g). 

(6)  “ Thoroughly  innate.  I had  no  regular  instruc- 
tion, and  can  think  of  no  event  which  especially  helped 
to  develop  it.  Bones  and  shells  were  attractive  to  me 
before  I could  consider  them  with  any  apparent  profit, 
and  books  of  natural  history  were  my  delight.  I had  a 
fair  zoological  collection  by  the  time  I was  fifteen.  My 
father  had  no  scientific  knowledge ; nevertheless,  he  en- 
couraged me  in  all  my  tastes,  giving  me  money  freely 
for  books  and  specimens,  against  the  advice  of  friends  ; 
but  he  was  indulgent  generally,  and  not  in  the  scientific 
direction  only  ” (a,  e). 

(7)  “ Innate,  as  far  as  a love  of  Nature  and  of  the 
observation  of  natural  phenomena.  I trace  the  origin  of 
my  interest  in  science  to  the  love  of  truth  and  of  men- 
tal cultivation  in  my  father,  and  his  encouragement  of 
this  love  in  his  children.  I do  not  think  it  was  largely 
determined  by  events  after  manhood  ” (a,  e). 

(8)  “ I should  say  innate.  I caught  at  all  scraps  of 
. lessons  for  self-improvement.  My  soon-developed  en- 
thusiasm must  have  been  derived  from  my  mother’s 
family.  As  to  whether  they  were  largely  developed  by 


126  ‘ ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


events  occurring  after  manhood,  I think  not.  All  I can 
say  is,  that  neither  profession  nor  marriage  nor  sickness 
has  been  able  to  affect  them”  (a,  e). 

(9)  “ I cannot  recollect  the  time  when  1 was  not  fond 
of  animals,  and  of  knowing  all  I could  learn  about  them. 
Living  in  the  country,  I had  abundant  opportunities  for 
indulging  my  taste,  though,  of  course,  I was  not  allowed 
to  keep  half  the  number  of  ‘ pets  ’ I should  have  liked. 
The  example  of  my  father  and  elder  brothers,  who  were 
all  pretty  firm  to  field-sports,  was  also  followed  by  me, 
and  from  field-sports  to  field  natural  history  is  but  a 
step.  I obtained,  by  a piece  of  sheer  good  luck,  the 
traveling  fellowship  of  . . . . ; it  was  tenable  for  nine 
years,  and  its  income  was  sufficient  to  keep  me  during 
that  time  without  being  obliged  to  enter  any  profession. 
Though  circumstances  subsequently  interfered  with  my 
using  this  assistance  to  the  most  advantage,  in  gratifying 
my  taste  for  natural  history,  it  was  enormously  furthered 
thereby  ” (a,  b,  c,  e ). 

(10)  “ My  partiality  for  the  natural  history  sciences 
was  initiated  partly  by  my  selection  of  medicine  as  a 
profession,  and  perhaps  even  more  that,  during  the  pe- 
riod of  my  apprenticeship,  I was  much  under  the  influ- 
ence of  a remarkable  man  . . . .,  a most  accomplished  • 
naturalist  and  of  singularly  independent  judgment.  . . . 
For  three  years  I spent  every  Sunday  morning  with  him. 


0 HI  GIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  127 


During  this  time  he  was  constantly  stimulating  me  (a 
willing  follower)  to  work  in  his  department  of  natural 
science,  and  at  the  same  time  ever  inculcating  a spirit  of 
scientific  skepticism”  (d,f). 

(11)  “To  love  of  birds,  their  study,  their  dissection. 
I remember  trying  to  find  out  in  the  structure  of  the 
oviduct  the  cause  of  color  and  markings  in  the  different 
eggs.  I discovered  hairs  sticking  in  the  cuckoo’s  stom- 
ach,  arranged  in  a spiral  manner,  before  I knew  that 
John  Hunter  had  described  the  same.  Then  I took  to 
drawing  skulls  and  skeletons,  and  my  fate  was  sealed. 
That  I inherited  a strong  love  of  Nature  is  certain,  from 
my  father,  who  was  devoted  to  horticulture,  and  very 
fond  of  birds  and  of  landscape  scenery ; but  I cannot 
trace  any  direct  tendencies  or  work  on  the  part  of  any 
member  of  my  family,  except  my  brother.  I feel  that 
I must  have  had  a taste  for  science,  independently  of 
external  circumstances.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  or 
eighteen,  I had  dissected  every  new  kind  of  bird  that  I 
met  with.  Later  opportunities  were  entirely  made  by 
myself,  or  perhaps,  rather,  taken  advantage  of  by  my- 
self ” (a,  e). 

(12)  “ My  love  of  natural  history  (so  common  in 
boys)  showed  itself  in  collecting  insects,  shells,  and 
birds’  eggs,  and  delighting  in  reading  such  books  as 
Stanley  on  “Birds,”  White’s  “ Selborne,”  “Waterton,” 


128 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


etc.,  at  a very  early  age  (eight  years  or  before),  and, 
being  rather  encouraged  than  checked,  continued  to  grow 
till  it  developed  into  a fondness  for  anatomical  pursuits 
generally,  which  was  never  abandoned.  My  taste  [for 
science]  was  entirely  innate  ; no  [other]  member  of  the 
family  nor  early  friend  or  acquaintance  had  any  special 
taste  for  any  of  the  natural  history  sciences.  Two 
brothers,  of  nearly  the  same  age,  and  with  precisely  the 
same  surroundings,  though  joining  occasionally  in  some 
of  the  above-mentioned  boyish  pursuits,  never  pursued 
them  with  real  interest,  and  soon  entirely  gave  them 
up  ” (a,  e ). 

(13)  “As  a boy,  I had  no  taste  for  natural  history, 
but  a passion  for  mechanical  contrivances,  physics,  and 
chemistry.  I earnestly  desired  to  be  an  engineer,  but 
the  fact  that  I had  a . . . . [near  relative]  a medical 
man  led  to  my  being  apprenticed  to  him,  and  I took  to 
physiology  and  anatomy,  as  the  engineering  side  of  my 
profession.  [The  inclinations  above  mentioned  were] 
altogether  innate,  and,  so  far  as  I know,  not  hereditary, 
neither  of  my  parents  nor  any  of  the  family  showing 
any  trace  of  the  like  tendencies.  My  appointment  to 
the  surveying-ship  ....  made  me  a comparative  anat- 
omist, by  affording  opportunities  for  the  investigation  of 
the  structure  of  the  lower  animals.  My  appointment  to 
. . . . forced  me  to  paleontology”  (a,  c,  d,  h ). 

(14)  “My  school  nickname  was  ‘Archimedes;'  I 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  129 


was  always  fond  of  construction.  If  I had  followed  my 
own  bent,  I should  probably  have  been  [successful  as] 
an  engineer.  My  turn  for  scientific  inquiry  led  me  in 
early  life  to  systematize  and  generalize  the  knowledge 
of  others.  Latterly  I have  felt  more  interest  in  original 
investigations”  (a,  c ). 

(15)  “I  was  in  a general  atmosphere  of  scientific 
thinking  and  discipline.  My  taste  for  biology  began 
with  keeping  insects ; for  chemistry  and  physics,  by 
being  led  to  try  experiments.  Largely  inherited  from 
my  father.  I have  made  my  circumstances  more  than 
they  have  made  me”  (a,  c,  e ). 

(16)  “My  father’s  example  influenced  me  so  early 
that  I have  no  means  of  judging,  but  I doubt  much  their 
innate  character.  Their  origin  was  due  primarily,  be- 
yond all  probability  of  doubt,  to  my  father’s  influence 
and  example.  They  were  not  influenced  by  subsequent 
events,  but  the  tastes  once  planted  rather  determined 
the  events.  My  medical  profession  caused  me  to  sus- 
pend my  scientific  pursuits  for  some  years ; but  the 
accidental  perusal  of  ...  . brought  me  back  again  to 
the  study  of  the  . . . .,  and  all  the  rest  followed  in  due 
time”  ( b , e ). 

(17)  “ They  appear  to  have  been  inherited.  My 
interest  in  science  arose  from  the  example  of  my  father, 
and  the  fact  of  my  being  for  a year  the  assistant  and 


130 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


close  companion  of  Prof of  . , . at  whose 

side  I visited  the  poor  in  the  lanes  of  . . . .,  day  and 
night.  First  began  to  work  and  concentrate  energies  to 
one  branch  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  when  appointed 
. . . (a,  d,  e,  g ). 

• (18)  “ They  have  been,  I believe,  nearly  in  an  equal 

degree  the  mixed  result  of  a natural  bias  and  education, 
and  were  determined  by  professional  study,  when  a love 
of  scientific  knowledge  for  its  own  sake  first  took  posses- 
sion of  my  mind”  (a,  d ). 

(19)  “ How  far  innate,  and  how  far  acquired  and  de- 
veloped from  my  early  youth,  I cannot  say.  My  love 
for  animals  of  all  kinds  was  very  strong,  and  to  gratify 
it  I overcame  every  obstacle  put  in  my  way  at  home, 
when  I was  a boy.  I trace  the  origin  of  my  interest  in 
science  to  the  earliest  impressions  of  my  childhood,  all 
of  which,  so  far  as  I recollect  them,  are  connected  with 
my  father  and  the  various  animals  he  brought  me  as 
pets.  They  were  not  largely  determined  by  events  after 
manhood.  I should  have  been  an  observer  of  animal 
life  under  any  conditions  under  which  I might  have 
lived”  (a,  e). 

(20)  “ I cannot  trace  the  origin  of  my  interest  in 
geology.  I believe  it  to  have  been  innate.  I began  col- 
lecting birds  and  studying  them  before  I went  to  school, 
and  without  any  inducement.  I was  always  told  by  my 
relations  that  my  scientific  pursuits  would  stand  in  my 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  131 


way,  but  adhered  to  them  notwithstanding.  They  were 
not  at  all  determined  by  events  occurring  after  I reached 
manhood ; they  simply  increased  as  I grew  older”  (a). 

(21)  “I  perceive  no  evidence  of  their  being  innate 
['?  hereditary],  unless  I derived  any  tendency  from  my 
mother,  who  was  at  one  time  much  with  her  great-uncle 
[.  . . . the  founder  of  one  of  our  great  industries],  and 
greatly  interested  in  his  pursuits.  She  worked  a good 
deal  at  chemistry,  and  was  well  acquainted  with  many 
of  the  processes  in  pottery.  I belonged  to  an  industri- 
ous family,  and  saw  every  one  working.  The  attraction 
I have  for  chemistry  (which  is  a strong  one,  only  my 
profession  has  never  allowed  me  to  follow  it  very  close- 
ly) arose  from  being  sent  to  work,  at  the  age  of  fifteen, 
in  a chemical  laboratory  ” (e). 

(22)  “ I do  not  consider  them  innate,  but  induced  by 
the  following  circumstances : When  I was  at  school 
(between  thirteen  and  fifteen  years  of  age),  a lady,  an 
old  friend  of  my  mother,  gave  me  a few  British  shells, 
with  their  names,  and  a copy  of  ‘ Turton’s  Conchological 
Dictionary.’  I thenceforth  diligently  collected  British 
shells,  and  afterward  extended  my  researches”  ( b ). 

(23)  “ To  my  father’s  example  (in  science)  ; to  the 
profession  of  rfiedicine  (in  physiology,  anatomy,  and 
....).  It  was  my  interest  in  my  profession  to  work 

at  scientific  subjects,  while  young  and  while  waiting  for 
7 


132 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


practice.  The  example  of  many  men  whom  I knew 
when  young  proved  a great  stimulus  and  incentive” 

(«»  d,f)- 

(24)  “ Not  at  all  innate.  . I can  trace  it  distinctly  to 
my  intercourse  with  certain  professors  . . . . ; subse- 
quently, to  my  desire  to  investigate  certain  scientific 
questions  bearing  on  medicine ; and  later,  to  my  inter- 
course with  ....  and  . . . .”  (c,  d,  f,  g ). 


BIOLOGY. 

Botanical  Sub-section. 

(1)  “My  scientific  tastes  were  inborn”  [and  strongly 
hereditary]  (a). 

(2)  “ As  far  as  the  word  applies  in  any  case,  I should 
say  decidedly  innate.  Excepting  such  influence  as  a lit- 
tle encouragement  at  home,  I am  unable  to  trace  any 
external  stimulus.  At  the  age  of  six  I was  given  Joyce's 
‘ Scientific  Dialogues,’  which  I soon  mastered,  then  other 
books ; before  the  age  of  eight  I commenced  making  star 
maps ; at  twelve  to  thirteen  years  of  age  I made  some 
geological  sections  with  tolerable  correctness ; and  so  on. 
It  [then]  seemed  as  if  any  accident  and  the  love  of  new 
vistas  were  enough  to  lead  me  from  one  branch  of  sci- 
ence to  another”  (a). 


(3)  “ Always  fond  of  plants  ” (a). 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  133 


(4)  “ Was  always  fond  of  objective  and  experimen- 

' tal  knowledge.  I date  my  first  efforts  of  any  con- 
sequence from  an  early  intimacy  with  Prof , 

whose  pupil  and  assistant  I was.  I had  a fondness  for 
science  before,  but  the  necessity  for  accurate  and  rigid 
observation  then  first  dawned  upon  me.  Subsequent 
events  were  going  to  ...  . [abroad],  and  appointments 
in  ....  [a  foreign  country,  where  I was  much  detained 
in-doors,  that]  compelled  me  to  take  to  the  microscope 
and  study  of  the  lower  orders  of  plants  and  animals, 
many  of  which  I could  grow  in  my  own  room  ” ( a , c,  y). 

(5)  “As  a youth,  I followed,  of  my  own  free-will, 
mineralogy,  chemistry,  anatomy,  and  mechanics,  but 
chiefly  chemistry.  My  tastes  were  certainly  not  heredi- 
tary. They  were  directed  to  botany  purely  through 
accidental  circumstances  [which  led  to  a prolonged  resi- 
dence in  an  imperfectly  civilized  country].  I examined 
its  plants,  then  wholly  unknown  to  Europeans,  but  was 
at  that  time  wholly  ignorant  of  the  very  elements  of 
botany.  Was  subsequently  encouraged  by  ...  . [emi- 
nent botanists  of  the  day]  ; went  to  and  from  England 
and  made  extensive  collections.  My  wife  actively  as- 
sisted me  in  my  botauical  and  other  scientific  pursuits, 
and  to  her  advice  and  assistance  I owe  much  of  my  suc- 
cess in  life  ” (a,  /,  A). 

(6)  “ The  love  for  botany  was  instilled  into  me  in 
very  early  youth  by  my  father.  We  lived  in  the  house 


134 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


of  ....  [a  very  eminent  geologist],  in  the  vicinity  of 
. . . .,  and  I often  took  walks  to  those  hills  and  collect- 
ed plants.  I also  cultivated  plants  in  our  garden.  A 
taste  for  natural  science,  especially  botarfy,  seems  to 
have  been  innate.  The  companionship  of  ...  . incited 
me  to  prosecute  botany  with  vigor.  I was  one  of  his 
best  pupils,  and  traveled  over  a great  part  of  ...  . 
with  him  ” (e,  g). 

(7)  [A  posthumous  account.]  “ He  appeal’s  to  have 
been  attached  to  natural  history  all  his  life  through,  but 
never  took  up  botany  to  any  extent  till  the  professorship 
was  vacant.  [There  is  some  conflict  of  testimony  here.] 
I think  his  scientific  tastes  were  innate.  I have  excellent 
drawings  of  insects  made  by  him  as  a school-boy ; also, 
he  made  a model  of  a caterpillar ; tried  a little  chemis- 
try ; made  lace  with  bobbins  of  his  own  contriving.  . . . 
It  was  said,  ‘ Nothing  escapes  that  boy’s  eyes’  ” (a,  d ). 

(8)  “ To  my  father’s  encouragement  of  a natural 
inclination”  (a,  e). 

(9)  “ I cannot  trace  the  origin  of  my  interest  in  any 
particular  branch  of  science  further  than  that  as  far  as 
regards  ....  botany,  I was  thrown  into  the  society  of 
a gentleman  who  took  much  interest  in  it.  My  scientific 
tastes  originated,  as  a matter  of  fact,  after  leaving  . . . . 
[the  university]  ” (/). 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  135 


• (10)  “Not  innate.  I trace  the  origin  of  my  botan- 
ical tastes  to  leisure ; to  the  accidental  receipt  of  De 
Candolle’s  ‘ Flore  frangaise,’  while  resident  in  that  coun- 
try ; and  to  encouragement  from  my  mother.  They 
were  determined  afterward  by  independence  (considering 
my  absence  of  ambition  to  rise  in  the  world),  and  by 
friendship  and  encouragement  from  . . . .,  the  four 
greatest  British  botanists  of  the  day”  ( b , e,  f). 


BIOLOGY. 

Medical  Sub-section. 

(1)  “ Innate  in  a great  degree.  I trace  the  origin  of 
my  interest  in  science  (1)  to  my  mother’s  mental  activ- 
ity and  love  of  collecting  and  arranging,  and  my  father’s 
constant  encouragement  of  my  pursuits ; (2)  to  the 
friendship  of  [three  eminent  botanists],  by  whom  I was 
chiefly  induced  to  study  botany  ; (3)  to  my  profession, 
the  choice  of  which  was  in  some  measure  determined  by 
my  taste  for  collecting  and  studying”  {a,  d,  e,f). 

(2)  “ I selected  the  medical  profession  because  it  was 
that  of  my  father.  This  choice  led  me  to  scientific  pur- 
suits, for  which  I had  no  previous  predilection,  as  I had 
no  opportunities  that  way.  I conclude  the  tastes  were 
innate,  as  they  certainly  showed  themselves  the  moment 
the  opportunity  for  developing  them  occurred,  namely, 


136 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


at  the  commencement  of  my  professional  studies,  aged 
seventeen”  (a,  d). 

(3)  “ Not  at  all  especially  innate.  I could  have 
taken  to  any  other  subject  quite  as  well,  so  far  as  1 
know.  I trace  the  origin  of  my  interest  in  science  to 
the  knowledge  that  I must  do  my  best  in  it  to  earn  a 
livelihood  and  to  please  my  parents.  I did  not  follow 
my  own  branch  from  any  special  liking — indeed,  I dis- 
liked it;  but  it  was  necessary  to  follow  some  branch. 
The  connection  with  a hospital  and  medical  school  in 
. . . . has  been  an  inducement  to  continue  work,  and  all 
my  life  I have  worked  pretty  steadily”  ( d ). 

(4)  “ I cannot  perceive  that  they  were  inuate.  Pos- 
sibly my  tastes  were  due  to  retentiveness  of  memory  as 
to  objects  and  facts,  and  a strong  impression  that  good 
surgery  is  a great  fact.  Subsequently,  by  the  approval 
of  teachers,  when  between  the  ages  of  eighteen  and 
twenty,  having  been  selected  chief  assistant  to  the  most 
popular  teacher  of  anatomy  of  his  day,  and  also  to  a 
professoi  of  surgery”  (c,  y). 

(5)  “ Had  an  interest  excited  in  philosophical  in- 
quiries by  my  father’s  acute  observations  in  all  such 
topics”  (e). 

(6)  “ 1 cannot  say  that  1 had  naturally  a turn  for  any 
pursuit  in  particular.  My  addiction  to  medicine  was 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  137 


purely  the  result  of  accident.  I never  gave  a thought 
to  physic  as  a subject  of  study  until  I was  twenty-seven 
years  old”  ( d ). 

(7)  “Accidentally  [directed]  to  medicine  by  associ- 
ating with  a medical  friend  in  a superficial  study  of  bot- 
any” ( c,d ). 

STATISTICS. 

(1)  “Certainly  my  scientific  tastes  appear  to  me  to 
have  been,  so  to  say,  innate”  (a). 

(2)  “ My  interest  in  science  was  due  to  my  having 
been  officially  employed  in  the  early  part  of  [my  career, 
in  a very  important  statistical  inquiry]  ” (d). 

(3)  “ Innate,  I think.  I inherit  many  mental  peculi- 
arities and  talents  from  my  paternal  grandfather,  among 
which  is  a love  of  figures  and  tabulation  ; none  from  my 
father.  I cannot  [otherwise]  trace  the  origin  of  my  in- 
terest in  science,  nor  were  my  tastes  largely  determined 
by  events  after  manhood”  («). 

(4)  “ I should  be  much  inclined  to  think  there  was 
an  innate  tendency,  but  that  the  tastes  were  developed 
by  a good  and  for  the  most  part  suitable  education. 
When  at  my  first  school,  aged  ten  and  a half  to  twelve 
years,  the  head-master  gave  very  clear  occasional  lessons 


138 


ENGLISH  MEN  OE  SCIENCE. 


in  moral  and  economical  subjects.  I can  remember 
vividly  to  the  present  day  the  impression  which  those 
lessons  made  upon  me.  As  I am  not  aware  that  the 
other  boys  in  the  class  were  equally  impressed,  I think  I 
must  have  had  an  innate  interest  in  those  subjects ; but 
the  lessons  probably  increased  the  interest  very  much  ” 
(«»  h 9)' 

(5)  “ I cannot  distinguish  between  what  I may  have 
derived  from  nature  and  .what  I may  have  acquired  from 
intercourse  with  my  father  and  certain  of  his  friends. 
When  I was  eleven  years  old,  my  father  gave  a series  of 
lectures  on  electricity,  mechanics,  astronomy,  and  pneu- 
matics, to  all  of  which,  but  especially  to  the  last,  I paid 
delighted  attention.  I presently  began  to  construct  ap- 
paratus for  myself.  Subsequently  practice  in  teaching 
led  me  to  seek  for  knowledge.  Intercourse  with  men  of 
higher  attainments  became  a great  spur ; my  turn  for 
. . . . was  favored  by  my  opportunities  as  an  early 
member  of  the  ....  Society  ” (a,  e,  f). 

(6)  “ Pi’of ’s  lectures  on  geology  were  the 

origin  of  my  interest  in  that  science ; the  work  of  the 
. . . . Statistical  Society  in  educational  inquiries  in- 
fluenced my  taste  for  statistical  science  ; frequent  attend- 
ance at  meetings  of  the  British  Association  encouraged 
my  scientific  tastes  ” (cl,  y). 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  139 


MECHANICAL  SCIENCE. 

(1)  “If  any  tastes  be  innate,  mine  were;  they  date 
from  beyond  my  recollection.  They  were  not  deter- 
mined by  events  after  manhood,  but,  I think,  the  re- 
verse ; they  were  discouraged  in  every  way”  (a). 

(2)  “ Decidedly  innate.  The  science  of  ...  . was 
well  taught  at  the  University  of  . . . .,  where  I studied, 
between  sixteen  and  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  acciden- 
tally this  became  serviceable  to  me  when  employed  as  an 
engineer  by  ...  . The  friendship  of  ...  . materially 
affected  my  career.  My  tastes  were  not  largely  devel- 
oped by  events  occurring  after  manhood”  (a,  b,  d,f). 

(3)  “ Family  tradition  derived  through  my  mother’s 
side.  My  profession  fell  in  with  my  natural  tastes,  such 
as  sketching  ” (c,  d,  e). 

(4)  “ Innate,  I think,  as  regards  certain  qualities  of 
mind,  which  led  me,  under  the  pressure  of  circumstances, 
to  direct  my  attention  to  certain  things  in  a certain  way, 
namely,  (1)  independence  of  judgment ; (2)  earnestness 
of  purpose  ; (3)  a practical,  clear-headed,  common-sense, 
logical  way  of  viewing  things”  (c,  d). 

(5)  “ I cannot  say  whether  they  were  innate.  I was 
always  brought  up  in  a half-scientific,  half-literary  atmos- 
phere, and  was  a fair  mathematician  as  a boy,  as  well 


140 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


as  a fair  classic  and  linguist.  My  tastes  were  not  deter- 
mined by  after-events,  but  my  avocations  were  rather 
determined  by  my  scientific  habits”  (e). 


ANALYSIS  OF  REPLIES. 

Having  given  the  replies  in  gross,  it  now  becomes 
our  business  to  sort  their  contents  under  different  heads. 
It  would  be  useless,  and  even  embarrassing,  to  make 
lengthy  extracts  from  them ; short  abstracts  will  there- 
fore be  given,  which  the  reader  may  verify  whenever  he 
pleases  by  the  help  of  the  reference  number,  printed  in 
parentheses  ( ),  which  is  the  same  both  here  and  in  the 
original. 


§ A. INNATE  TASTES. 

Instances  of  a strong  taste  for  science  being  decidedly 
innate.  I have  not  included  among  these  the  whole  of 
the  cases  to  which  an  a has  been  affixed  : 

Physics  and  Mathematics. — Twelve  cases  out  of  twen- 
ty replies.  (1)  My  tastes  are  entirely  innate  ; they  date 
from  childhood.  (2)  As  far  back  as  I can  remember, 
I loved  Nature  and  desired  to  learn  her  secrets.  (3) 
Always  attracted  by  men  of  ability.  (4)  From  an  early 
age  I was  addicted  to  mechanical  pursuits ; then  to  chem- 
istry. (5)  Naturally  fond  of  mechanics  and  physical 
science.  (6)  My  tastes  were  partly  natural,  partly  en- 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  141 


eouraged.  (7)  I remember  [incidents  which  proved  an 
innate  taste]  before  I could  write.  (8)  I had  an  innate 
wish  for  miscellaneous  information.  (11)  Primarily  de- 
rived [both  by  inheritance  and  education]  from  my 
father.  (16)  I always  regarded  mathematics  as  the 
method  of  obtaining  both  the  most  useful  and  the  most 
harmonious,  etc.  (17)  My  taste  for  mathematics  ap- 
pears innate ; as  a boy  I delighted  in  sums.  (IS)  An 
early  taste  for  arithmetic,  and  in  particular  for  long- 
division  sums. 

Chemistry. — Five  cases  out  of  eleven.  (1)  Thor- 
oughly innate.  (2)  Perhaps  wholly  innate.  (3)  I was 
always  observing  and  inquiring.  (4)  They  date  from  a 
very  early  period,  and  there  was  little  to  produce  them 
in  my  early  surroundings.  (5)  From  an  early  age  I had 
an  innate  taste  for  all  branches  of  science. 

Geology. — At  least  seven  out  of  eight  cases.  (1) 
Decidedly  innate.  (2)  A natural  taste  for  observing 
and  generalizing  developed.  (3)  A natural  taste ; my 
interest  in  science  began  very  early.  (4)  I believe  I 
may  say  innate  to  a very  considerable  extent.  (5)  I 
vras  always  fond  of  natural  history.  (6)  As  well  as  I 
can  recollect,  they  were  innate.  (7)  I believe  the  desire 
for  information  and  habits  of  observation  to  be  in  great 
measure  innate. 

Zoology. — Eighteen  cases  out  of  twenty-four.  (1) 


142 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


[Yes.]  Inherited  from  my  father’s  family.  (2)  Cer- 
tainly innate.  (3)  Love  of  observation  and  natural  his- 
tory innate.  (4)  Homology  innate.  (5)  I believe  I 
inherited  my  general  taste  for  scientific  pursuits.  (6) 
Thoroughly  innate.  Bones  and  shells  were  attractive  to 
me  before  I could  consider  them  with  any  apparent 
profit.  (7)  Innate  love  of  Nature  and  observation  of 
natural  phenomena.  (8)  I should  say  innate ; I caught 
at  all  scraps  of  lessons  for  self-improvement.  (9)  I can- 
not recollect  the  time  when  I was  not  fond  of  animals, 
and  of  knowing  all  I could  learn  about  them.  (11) 
Love  of  birds  and  their  study.  ...  I feel  that  I must 
have  had  a taste  for  science  independently  of  external 
circumstances.  (12)  My  taste  [for  science]  was  entire- 
ly innate.  (13)  As  a boy,  I had  a passion  for  mechani- 
cal contrivances  ; [my  scientific  tastes  are]  altogether 
innate.  (14)  I was  always  fond  of  construction ; my 
turn  for  scientific  inquiry  led  me  in  early  life  to  sys- 
tematize the  knowledge  of  others.  (15)  Largely  inher- 
ited from  my  father.  (17)  They  appear  to  have  been 
inherited.  (18)  Nearly  in  an  equal  degree  the  mixed 
result  of  a natural  bias  and  education.  (19)  I should 
have  been  an  observer  of  animal  life  under  whatever 
conditions  I might  have  lived.  (20)  I believe  my  inter- 
est in  zoology  to  have  been  innate. 

Botany. — Eight  cases  out  of  ten.  (1)  My  scientific 
tastes  were  inborn.  (2)  As  far  as  the  word  applies  in 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  143 


any  case,  I should  say  decidedly  innate.  (3)  Always 
fond  of  plants.  (4)  Was  always  fond  of  objective  and 
experimental  knowledge.  (5)  As  a youth,  I followed, 
of  my  own  free-will,  chemistry  and  other  sciences.  (6) 
A taste  for  natural  science,  especially  botany,  seems  to 
have  been  innate.  (7)  [Scientific  tastes  apparently  in- 
nate.] (8)  A natural  inclination. 

Medical  Science. — Only  two  cases  out  of  seven.  (1) 
Innate  in  a great  degree.  (2)  I conclude  the  tastes  were 
innate,  as  they  showed  themselves  the  moment  the  op- 
portunity for  developing  them  occurred. 

Statistics. — Three  cases  out  of  six.  (1)  Certainly 
my  scientific  tastes  appear  to  me  to  have  been,  so  to  say, 
innate.  (3)  Innate,  I think.  (4)  Much  inclined  to  think 
there  was  an  innate  tendency 

Mechanical  Science. — At  least  two  cases  out  of  five. 
(1)  If  any  tastes  be  innate,  mine  were;  they  date  from 
beyond  my  recollection.  (2)  Decidedly  innate. 

INSTANCES  OF  TASTES  BEING  DECIDEDLY  NOT  INNATE. 

Physics  and  Mathematics. — One  case  out  of  twenty. 
(15)  I am  not  aware  of  any  innate  taste  for  science. 

Chemistry. — One  case  out  of  eleven.  (10)  I did 
nothing  serious  till  the  age  of  twenty-three.  My  pur- 
suit of  chemistry  is  entirely  due  to  circumstances  occur- 
ring after  manhood. 


144 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


Zoology. — Three  cases  out  of  twenty-four.  (16)  I 
doubt  much  their  innate  character.  (22)  I do  not  con- 
sider them  innate,  but  induced.  (24)  Not  at  all  innate. 

Botany. — One  case  out  of  ten.  (10)  Not  innate. 

Medical. — Four  cases  out  of  seven.  (3)  Not  at  all 
especially  innate.  (4)  I cannot  perceive  that  they  were 
innate.  (6)  I cannot  say  that  I had  naturally  a turn  for 
any  pursuit  in  particular.  (7)  Accidentally  [directed] 
to  medicine. 

Statistics. — One  at  most  out  of  six.  (2)  My  interest 
in  science  was  due  to  my  having  been  officially  employed 
in  a statistical  inquiry.  [It  is  with  much  hesitation  that 
I consent  to  enter  this  as  a case  of  “ not  innate.”] 


SUMMARY  OF  RESULTS  AS  TO  INNATE  TASTES. 


Total 

Cases. 

Decidedly 

innate.' 

Decidedly 

not 

innate. 

Doubtfnl. 

Physics  and  Mathematics. 

20 

12 

1 

7 

Chemistry  and  Mineralogy 

11 

5 

1 

5 

Geoloay 

8 

7 

0 

1 

Biology — Zoology 

24 

17 

3 

4 

Botany 

10 

8 

1 

1 

Medical  Science. 

7 

2 

4 

1 

Geography  (not  discussed 

l 0 

o 

o 

o 

separately) 

S 0 

Statistical  Science 

6 

3 

1 

2 

Mechanical  Science 

5 

2 

o 

3 

91 

56 

11 

24 

ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  1±5 


A mere  glance  at  the  table  and  at  the  foregoing  ex- 
tracts will  probably  be  enough  to  convince  the  reader 
that  a strong  and  innate  taste  for  science  is  a prevailing 
characteristic  among  scientific  men  ; also  that  the  taste 
is  enduring.  This  latter  peculiarity  is  by  no  means  a 
necessary  consequence  of  the  former ; on  the  contrary, 
the  ruling  motives  in  the  disposition  of  a man  usually 
change  as  he  grows  older,  the  love  of  inquiry  in  child- 
hood being  superseded  by  the  fierce  passions  of  youth, 
and  these  by  the  ambitions  of  more  mature  life.  But  a 
special  taste  for  science  seems  frequently  to  be  so  in- 
grained hi  the  constitution  of  scientific  men,  that  it  as- 
serts itself  throughout  their  whole  existence.  Obviously 
it  must  have  had  great  influence  in  directing  their  early 
studies  and  in  insuring  their  successful  prosecution  of 
them  in  after-years. 

It  would  be  a curious  inquiry  to  seek  the  limits  of  a 
special  taste — that  is,  the  diversity  of  the  objects,  any 
one  of  which  would  satisfy  it.  I think  the  indications 
are  clear  that  the  tastes  of  some  of  my  correspondents 
are  far  more  special  than  those  of  others,  and  that  the 
latter  have  checked  a tendency  to  desultoriness  by  their 
strength  of  will,  or  have  had  it  checked  by  the  necessi- 
ties of  their  position  as  professors  or  professional  men  ; 
or,  most  of  all,  by  the  possession  of  that  strange  quality 
which  the  phrenologists  call  adhesiveness,  but  which 
seems  to  defy  analysis.  It  exists  in  very  different 
strength  in  different  persons,  and  I know  not  where  to 


146 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


find  a better  illustration  of  its  power  than  in  the  ordi- 
nary case  of  a man  falling  in  love  for  the  first  time. 
Few  lookers-on  will  doubt  that  almost  any  young  man  is 
capable  of  falling  in  love  with  any  one  of  at  least  one- 
third  of  the  presentable  young  women  of  his  race  and 
social  position,  if  they  happen  to  see  much  of  one  an- 
other under  favorable  circumstances  and  without  other 
distraction ; yet,  although  the  innate  taste  is  of  so  gen- 
eral a character,  it  becomes  specialized  at  once  by  the 
mere  act  of  falling  in  love.  Then  the  image  of  one 
woman  takes  complete  possession  of  his  thoughts ; she 
is  for  a considerable  period  the  only  female  who  has 
attractions  for  him,  although  he  might  previously  have 
been  equally  attracted  by  any  one  of  tens  of  thousands 
of  her  sex. 

A strong  taste  bearing  remotely  on  science  may 
prove  very  helpful.  The  love  of  collecting,  which  is  a 
trifling  tendency  in  itself,  common  to  children,  idiots, 
and  magpies,  often  leads  to  the  study  of  the  things  col- 
lected, and  is  of  immense  use  to  a man  who  wishes  to 
study  objects  that  must  be  collected  in  large  numbers. 
I have  been  told  of  an  astronomer  whose  primary  taste 
was  a love  of  polished  brass  instruments  and  smooth 
mechanical  movements ; that  nothing  satisfied  this  taste 
so  fully  as  work  with  telescopes  ; and  from  loving  the 
instruments,  he  soon  learned  to  love  the  work  for  which 
they  were  used.  A taste  for  careful  drawing  works  well 
into  engineering  and  into  systematic  botany  or  zoology. 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  U7 


A love  of  adventure  and  field  sports  may  be  an  ex- 
tremely useful  element  in  the  character  of  a man  who 
follows  geology  or  zoology. 

As  a rough  numerical  estimate,  it  seems  that  six  out 
of  every  ten  men  of  science  were  gifted  by  nature  with 
a strong  taste  for  it ; certainly  not  one  person  in  ten, 
taken  at  hap-hazard,  possesses  such  an  instinct ; therefore 
I contend  that  its  presence  adds  fivefold  at  least  to  the 
chance  of  Scientific  success.  The  converse  way  of  look- 
ing at  the  question  gives  a similarly  large  estimate. 
Certainly  one-half  of  the  population  have  no  care  for 
science,  and  an  extremely  small  proportion  of  that  half 
succeed  in  it.  Nay,  further,  it  appears  (though  I cannot 
publish  facts  in  evidence,  without  violating  my  rule  of 
avoiding  personal  allusions)  that  of  the  men  who  have 
no  natural  taste  for  science  and  yet  succeed  in  it,  many 
belong  to  gifted  families,  and  may  therefore  be  accredit- 
ed with  sufficient  general  abilities  to  leave  their  mark  on 
whatever  subject  it  becomes  their  business  to  undertake. 
We  may  therefore  rest  assured  that  the  possession  of  a 
strong  special  taste  is  a precious  capital,  and  that  it  is  a 
wicked  waste  of  national  power  to  thwart  it  ruthlessly 
by  a false  system  of  education.  But  I can  give  no  test 
which  shall  distinguish  in  boyhood  between  a taste  that 
is  destined  to  endure  and  a passing  fancy,  further  than 
by  remarking  that,  whenever  the  aptitudes  seem  heredi- 
tary, they  deserve  peculiar  consideration. 

Instinctive  tastes  for  science  are,  generally  speaking, 


148 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


not  so  strongly  hereditary  as  the  more  elementary  quali- 
ties of  the  body  and  mind.  I have  tabulated  the  replies, 
and  find  the  proportion  to  be  one  case  of  inheritance  to 
four  that  are  not  inherited  from  either  parent.  There  is 
no  case  in  which  the  correspondent  speaks  of  having  in- 
herited a love  of  science  from  his  mother,  though,  of 
course,  she  may,  and  probably  has,  often  transmitted  it 
from  a grandparent.  I have  a curious  case  among  the 
returns  sent  to  me,  of  a passion  for  heraldry  character- 
izing a great-nephew  and  a great-uncle,  the  latter  of 
whom  had  died  before  the  former  was  born.  I have 
another  of  an  eminent  statistician,  in  whom  a love  of 
figures  and  tabulation  was  highly  characteristic  of  his 
grandparent,  and  is  very  strongly  marked  in  himself,  but 
was  wholly  absent  in  his  parent  and  all  other  known 
members  of  his  small  family.  There  have  been  numer- 
ous and  most  curious  cases  of  a love  of  figures  and  tabu- 
lation in  my  own  family,  which  richly  deserve  a full 
description.  It  was  carried  to  so  strange  an  extrava- 
gance by  one  of  its  members,  a lady  now  deceased,  that 
I can  do  no  sufficient  justice  to  her  peculiarities  by 
speaking  in  general  terms  ; I ought  to  give  pages  of 
anecdote. 

§ B. FORTUNATE  ACCIDENTS. 

We  next  come  to  a group  of  cases  which  imply  a 
latent  taste  for  science,  namely,  where  a life-long  pursuit 
of  it  was  first  determined  by  some  small  accident.  The 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  149 


previous  -indifference  or  equilibrium  of  the  mind  was  un- 
stable, a push  was  accidentally  given,  its  position  was 
wholly  changed,  and  it  rested  in  one  of  stable  equilib- 
rium. These  cases  are  not  numerous — only  ten  alto- 
gether— but  I put  them  in  the  second  place  on  account 
of  their  affinity  to  those  in  the  first. 

Physics  and  Mathematics. — (ID.)  [Refer  to  this.] 

Chemistry. — (1)  Possession  of  a chemical  box  when 
I was  a little  boy.  (3)  From  lectures  I attended  when 
a boy.  (9)  To  reading  by  accident  a book  on  chemistry. 

Geology. — (2)  Fossiliferous  rocks  near  the  school 
where  I was. 

Zoology. — (9)  A traveling  fellowship.  (16)  Acci- 
dentally reading  a book  brought,  me  back  to  scientific 
studies,  previously  suspended  owing  to  my  profession. 
(22)  Gift,  when  a boy,  of  a box  of  British  shells,  with  a 
book  to  explain  them. 

Botany. — (10)  Accidental  receipt  of  De  Candolle’s 
“ Flore  framjaise,”  when  residing  in  France. 

Medical  Science. — None. 

Statistics. — (4)  Very  clear  occasional  lectures  when 
a boy. 

Mechanics. — (2)  A particular  study  at  a university, 
which  accidentally  became  of  professional  importance. 


150 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


§ C. INDIRECT  MOTIVES  OR  OPPORTUNITIES. 

This  group  has  also  considerable  affinity  to  group  (a), 
and  has  been  alluded  to  in  the  remarks  appended  to  the 
extracts  referring  to  it.  It  includes  those  cases  in  which 
the  mind  was  partly,  but  not  largely,  deflected  from  its 
natural  bent ; that  portion  of  the  innate  tendency  which 
admitted  of  being  “ resolved  in  the  direction  ” of  the 
scientific  pursuit  being  satisfied,  the  remainder  being 
wasted.  These  cases  are  not  numerous — only  sixteen 
altogether — but  I give  them  the  third  place  for  the  same 
reason  that  I gave  group  (b)  the  second. 

Physics  and  Mathematics. — (5)  Possession  of  special 
instruments.  (8)  Choosing  engineering  as  a profession, 
but  not  following  it.  (19)  Love  of  yachting  (leading  to 
researches  on  magnetism  of  ships). 

Chemistry.-— (6)  The  obtaining  of  correct  and  accu- 
rate results  in  chemical  analysis  gave  me  great  satisfac- 
tion. 

Geology. — (1)  Interest  in  discoveries  made  in  , 
(3)  A very  early  love  of  experiment  and  chemistry. 
(6)  Should  have  followed  chemistry  and  physics,  but  cir- 
cumstances ....  gave  opportunities  for  geology. 

Zoology. — (5)  My  choosing  ....  for  special  inves- 
tigation was  due  to  a positive  fascination  from  the  ob- 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  151 


scurity  of  the  subject.  (9)  My  father’s  and  brother’s 
pursuit  of  field  sports,  and  thence  indirectly  to  natural 
history.  (13)  An  early  passion  for  mechanism,  which 
led  me  to  take  to  physiology  and  anatomy,  as  the  engi- 
neering side  of  my  profession.  (15)  My  taste  for  biol- 
ogy began  with  keeping  insects.  (24)  ....  subse- 
quently to  the  desire  to  investigate  certain  questions 
bearing  on  medicine. 

Botany. — None. 

Medical  Science. — (3)  Connection  of  hospital  and 
medical  school  with  the  place  of  his  residence.  (4) 
Love  of  facts  and  the  impression  that  good  surgery  is  a 
great  fact. 

Sta  tistics. — N one . 

Mechanics. — (3)  Profession  fell  in  with  natural  tastes, 
such  as  sketching.  (4)  Innate  faculties,  serviceable  to 
profession  under  the  pressure  of  circumstances. 

§ D. PROFESSIONAL  DUTIES. 

The  fourth  group  comprises  instances  in  which  pro- 
fessional duty  was  a principal  cause  of  the  interest  first 
felt  in  scientific  pursuits,  or  else  of  the  energies  being 
concentrated  upon  some  branch  of  science  toward  which 
no  special  inclination  had  previously  been  exhibited. 
Two  or  three  of  the  twenty-one  cases  which  I shall  quote 


152 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


may  perhaps  be  thought  doubtful  examples,  and  more 
appropriate  to  the  preceding  group ; but  after  all  possi- 
ble deductions  have  been  made,  there  will  remain  ample 
evidence  of  the  magnitude  of  the  influence  we  are  con- 
sidering. A wise  administrator,  desirous,  even  at  some 
cost,  of  promoting  original  investigation,  would  establish 
many  professional  offices  of  a scientific  character,  having 
responsible  duties  of  a prominent  kind  attached  to  them. 
They  would  create  much  new  interest  in  science,  and 
would  compel  those  who  held  them  to  work  steadily  and 
to  a purpose  in  scientific  harness. 

Physics  and  Mathematics. — (4)  Had  never  attended 
specially  to  physics  till  appointed  professor  of  natural 
philosophy.  This  induced  me  to  give  up  chemistry,  and 
to  devote  myself  definitively  to  physics.  (9)  Solitary 
observing  for  years  [as  director  of  an  observatory]. 
(13)  Professional  duties  and  civil  engineering  . . . . ; 
official  exploration  of  ...  . (14)  Largely  determined 

by  service  in  north-polar  and  equatorial  expeditions. 
(15)  My  interest  in  astronomy  was  very  small  indeed, 
until  I was  appointed  [to  the  directorship  of  an  observa- 
tory]. 

Chemistry. — (8)  The  university  inviting  me  to  fill 
the  chair  of  . . . .,  gave  my  work  its  bent. 

Geology. — None. 

Zoology. — (1)  Largely  determined  by  being  appoint- 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE,  153 


ed  . . . . (10)  Partly  by  my  selection  of  medicine  as 

a profession.  (13)  My  appointment  to  a surveying-ship 
made  me  a comparative  anatomist  . . . .,  that  to  ...  . 
forced  me  to  paleontology.  (17)  First  began  to  concen- 
trate energies  to  one  branch,  when  appointed  . . . . 
(18)  [My  scientific  tastes]  were  determined  by  profes- 
sional study.  (23)  To  the  profession  of  medicine  [in 
physiology,  anatomy,  and  . . . .]  (24)  Subsequently 

to  my  desire  to  investigate  certain  subjects  bearing  on 
[my  profession  of]  medicine. 

Botany.- — (7)  Never  took  up  botany  to  any  extent 
till  the  professorship  was  vacant.  [There  is  some  con- 
flict of  testimony  here.] 

Medical  Science. — (1)  Partly  to  my  profession.  (2) 
I selected  the  medical  profession  because  it  was  that  of 
my  father ; this  choice  led  me  to  scientific  pursuits. 
(3)  I did  not  follow  my  own  branch  from  any  special 
liking — indeed,  I rather  disliked  it — but  it  was  necessary 
to  earn  a livelihood  and  to  follow  some  branch.  (6)  My 
addiction  to  medicine  was  purely  the  result  of  accident ; 
I never  gave  a thought  to  physic  as  a subject  of  study 
until  I was  twenty-seven  years  old.  (7)  Accidental  to 
medicine. 

Statistics. — (2)  Due  to  official  employment  when 
young,  in  a very  important  statistical  inquiry. 


154: 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


Mechanics. — (2)  The  science  of  . . . which  I had 
learned  accidentally,  became  serviceable  to  me  when 
employed  as  an  engineer.  (3)  My  profession  fell  in 
with  my  natural  tastes.  (4)  Pressure  of  circumstances. 


§ E. ENCOURAGEMENT  AT  HOME. 

Nearly  one-third  of  the  scientific  men  have  expressed 
themselves  mdebted  to  encouragement  at  home.  They 
received  it  in  various  ways ; sometimes  the  influence  of 
the  parent  was  strong  and  direct,  as  “ their  origin  was 
due  beyond  all  doubt  to  my  father’s  influence  ; ” some- 
times it  was  strong  but  general,  as  “ I was  in  a general 
atmosphere  of  scientific  thinking  and  discussion  ; ” some- 
times it  went  no  further  than  indulgence,  as  “ permission 
to  carry  on  little  experiments  at  home  in  a room  set 
apart  for  the  purpose.”  Under  each  and  all  of  these 
shapes  it  was  truly  welcome,  and  its  effectiveness  may 
be  in  some  measure  estimated  by  the  vastly  smaller 
number  of  cases  in  which  success  was  obtained  in  direct 
opposition  to  family  influences. 

Scientific  studies  in  boyhood  are  apt  to  meet  with 
scant  favor  at  home  ; they  deal  too  much  in  abstractions 
on  the  one  hand,  and  sensible  messes  and  mischief  to 
furniture  and  clothes  on  the  other.  They  lead  to  no 
clearly  lucrative  purpose,  and  occupy  time  which  might 
be  apparently  better  bestowed.  These  hinderances  were 
far  more  seriously  felt  when  the  men  on  my  list  were 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  155 


young,  when  apparatus  was  hardly  to  be  procured,  and 
when  scientific  work  was  exceptional.  I ascribe  many 
of  the  cases  of  encouragement  to  the  existence  of  an 
hereditary  link  ; that  is  to  say,  the  son  had  inherited  sci- 
entific tastes,  and  was  encouraged  by  the  parent  from 
whom  he  had  inherited  them,  and  who  naturally  sympa- 
thized with  him. 

Attention  should  be  given  to  the  relatively  small  en- 
couragement received  from  the  mother.  I have  sorted 
the  extracts  so  as  to  permit  the  comparison  to  be  easily 
made.  The  female  mind  has  special  excellences  of  a 
high  order,  and  the  value  of  its  influence  in  various  ways 
is  one  that  I can  never  consent  to  underrate ; but  that 
influence  is  toward  enthusiasm  and  love  (as  distinguished 
from  philanthropy),  not  toward  calm  judgment,  nor,  in- 
clusively, toward  science.  In  many  respects  the  charac- 
ter of  scientific  men  is  strongly  anti-feminine ; their 
mind  is  directed  to  facts  and  abstract  theories,  and  not 
to  persons  or  human  interests.  The  man  of  "science  is 
deficient  in  the  purely  emotional  element,  and  in  the 
desire  to  influence  the  beliefs  of  others.  Thus  I find 
that  two  out  of  every  ten  do  not  care  for  politics  at  all ; 
they  are  devoid  of  partisanship.  They  school  a natu- 
rally equable  and  independent  mind  to  a still  more  com- 
plete subordination  to  their  judgment.  In  many  respects 
they  have  little  sympathy  with  female  ways  of  thought. 
It  is  a curious  proof  of  this,  that  in  the  very  numerous 

answers  which  have  reference  to  parental  influence,  that 
8 


156 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


of  the  father  is  quoted  three  times  as  often  as  that  of 
the  mother.  It  would  not  have  been  the  case,  judging 
from  inquiries  I elsewhere  made,  if  I had  been  discussing 
the  antecedents  of  literary  men,  commanders,  or  states- 
men, or,  still  more,  of  divines. 

Physics  and  Mathematics. — (10)  The  origin  of  my 
interest  in  ....  is  mainly  due  to  my  father’s  knowl- 
edge of  geology,  navigation,  and  engineering.  (11)  Pri- 
marily derived  [both  by  education  and  inheritance]  from 
my  father. 

Chemistry. — (3)  Permission  to  carry  on  little  experi- 
ments at  home,  in  a room  set  apart  for  the  purpose.  . . . 
Subsequently  residing  abroad  and  my  mother  making  a 
home  for  me  there.  (4)  I was  taught  at  home  with  my 
brothers  ; we  had  always  the  example  of  industry,  and 
were  encouraged  to  think  for  ourselves.  (8)  My  father 
gave  me  [some  books  on  chemistry,  and]  I owe  to  my 
mother  a child’s  curiosity  and  afterward  a man’s  rever- 
ence for  scientific  truth.  (11)  My  tastes  received  no 
encouragement  whatever  from  relations,  my  mother  ex- 
cepted. 

Geology. — (1)  My  father  and  an  aunt  collected  speci- 
mens. (4)  I was  indebted  in  a high  degree  to  collections 
made  by  my  father  and  mother.  (1)1  was  encouraged 
by  the  example  of  an  elder  brother. 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  157 


Zoology. — (9)  (The  example  of  my  father  and  elder 
brothers,  who  were  all  pretty  firm  to  field  sports,  was 
also  followed  by  me,  and  from  field  sports  to  field  natu- 
ral history  is  but  a step.)  (15)  Largely  inherited  from 
my  father.  I was  in  a general  atmosphere  of  scientific 
thinking  and  discussion.  (21)  I may  have  derived  [1  in- 
herited] the  tendency  from  my  mother ; I belonged  to 
an  industrious  family,  and  saw  every  one  working.  (1) 
[Traditionally  derived,  and]  inherited  from  my  father’s 
family  [i.  e.,  from  father,  grandfather,  etc.].  (6)  My 
father  had  no  scientific  knowledge,  nevertheless  he  en- 
couraged me.  (7)  I trace  it  to  the  love  of  truth  and  of 
mental  cultivation  in  my  father,  and  to  his  encourage- 
ment of  this  love  in  his  children.  (11)  That  I inherited 
a strong  love  of  Nature  from  my  father  is  certain,  who 
was  devoted  to  horticulture  and  very  fond  of  birds. 
(16)  Their  origin  was  due,  beyond  all  doubt,  to  my 
father’s  influence.  (17)  My  interest  in  science  arose 
from  the  example  of  my  father,  and  . . . .,  etc.  (19) 
I trace  it  to  the  earliest  impressions  of  my  childhood,  all 
of  which  are  connected  with  my  father  and  the  animals 
he  brought  me  as  pets.  (23)  To  my  father’s  example 
(in  science).  (4)  Decidedly  to  my  mother’s  observa- 
tions in  our  childhood  rambles.  (8)  My  soon-developed 
enthusiasm  must  have  been  derived  from  my  mother’s 
family. 


Botany. — (2)  A little  encouragement  at  home.  (6) 


158 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


The  love  of  botany  was  instilled  into  me  in  very  early 
youth  by  my  father.  (8)  To  my  father’s  encouragement 
of  a natural  inclination.  (10)  And  to  encouragement 
from  my  mother. 

Medical  Science. — (1)  [Partly]  to  my  mother’s  men- 
tal activity  and  love  of  collecting  and  arranging,  and  to 
my  father’s  constant  encouragement  of  my  pursuit. 

Statistics. — (5)  [Partly]  acquired  from  intercourse 
with  my  father  and  .... 

Mechanics. — (5)  I was  always  brought  up  in  a half- 
scientific,  half -literary  atmosphere.  (3)  Family  tradi- 
tion derived  through  my  mother’s  side. 

Two  cases  are  mentioned  in  which  the  origin  of  the 
scientific  tastes  was  partly  due  to  the  active  assistance  of 
the  wife.  One  of  these  is  botany  (5),  and  the  other  I 
have  ventured  to  suppress,  as  it  did  not  appear  to  me 
sufficiently  decided. 

§ F. THE  INFLUENCE  AND  ENCOURAGEMENT  OF  FRIENDS. 

This  group  has  much  in  common  with  that  of  the  in- 
direct influences  already  classed  under  group  c ; it  in- 
cludes cases  where  a fortuitous  acquaintance  has  been 
the  means  of  deciding  a career,  probably  by  revealing  a 
latent  taste,  or  showing  how  some  obstacle  in  the  way  of 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  159 


indulging  it  could  easily  be  removed.  There  is  a wide 
interval,  often  very  difficult  to  get  over,  between  the 
study  of  a subject  out  of  books  and  the  practical  inves- 
tigation of  it  for  one’s  self.  At  this  point  of  a man’s 
mental  progress  the  help  of  a friend  may  be  of  immense 
assistance  ; he  may  give  elementary  hints  which  will  re- 
move formidable  difficulties  to  a beginner,  who  is  utterly 
unused  to  experiment.  It  is  told,  I think,  of  a scholar, 
that  he  labored  for  successive  days  to  make  with  his  own 
hands  in  his  own  chambers  a plum-pudding  according  to 
a time-honored  family  recipe,  but  he  produced  nothing 
except  thick  pastes  or  stirabouts  of  different  degrees  of 
lumpiness,  revolting  to  the  sight.  At  length  he* confided 
his  difficulties  to  a lady,  who  explained  that  in  malting 
plum-puddings  it  was  a matter  of  course,  and  therefore 
not  spoken  of  in  the  recipe,  to  put  the  ingredients  into  a 
bag  before  beginning  to  boil  them.  The  example  of  a 
friend  encourages  a young  man  to  overcome  his  diffi- 
dence, and  to  firmly  occupy  any  position  that  he  knows 
by  his  own  judgment  to  be  true.  Perhaps  the  greatest 
help  of  all  is  the  consciousness  of  strength  which  is  given 
by  cooperation  on  not  very  unequal  terms  with  a veteran 
in  performance  and  reputation.  Out  of  the  ninety-one 
cases,  eighteen  speak  gratefully  of  the  influence  and  en- 
couragement of  friends. 

Physics  and  Mathematics. — (3)  ....  I was  both  his 
young  friend  and  assistant  for  three  years.  He  imbued 


160 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


me  with  his  respect  for  science,  . . . earnestness,  and 
accuracy.  (6)  Partly  encouraged  by  an  eminent  friend. 
(13)  Picked  up  an  unsystematic  education  [in  science] 
in  the  company  of  ...  . (16)  I was  taken  to  see 

. . . . [which  was  the  origin  of  my  experimentalizing]. 
(17)  I trace  it  to  my  acquaintance  with  . . . .,  and  to 
going  abroad  with  him.  (19)  The  intimacy  of  his  father 
with  ....  gave  a bias  toward  magnetism. 

Chemistry. — (2)  My  taste  for  zoology  arose  through 
friendship  with  .... 

Geology. — (2)  The  surgeon  to  whom  I was  articled 
fostered  my  tastes.  (4)  To  mining  officers  in  Germany; 
to  conversations  with  ....  and  . . . .,  and  acquaint- 
ance of  ...  . (5)  Through  the  acquaintance  of 

. . . .,  to  the  particular  branch  [of  geology,  that  I have 
pursued] . 

Zoology.— (3)  The  help  of  ....  has  aided  me  im- 
mensely. (10)  I was  much  under  the  influence  of  a 
remarkable  man,  a most  accomplished  naturalist.  (23) 
The  example  of  many  men  whom  I knew  when  I was 
young,  proved  a great  stimulus  and  incentive.  (24)  I 
can  trace  it  distinctly  to  my  intercourse  with  certain  pro- 
fessors. 

Botany. — (5)  ....  was  subsequently  encouraged 
by  [eminent  botanists],  (9)  I was  thrown  into  the  soci- 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  161 


ety  of  a gentleman  who  took  much  interest  in  botany. 
(10)  They  were  determined  afterward  by  . . . .,  and 
the  friendship  and  encouragement  of  the  four  greatest 
British  botanists  of  the  day. 

Medical  Science. — (1)  [Partly]  to  the  friendship  of 
three  eminent  botanists.  (7)  Accidentally  [directed]  to 
medicine  by  associating  with  a medical  friend  in  a super- 
ficial study  of  botany. 

Statistics. — (5)  [Partly]  from  intercourse  with  my 
father  and  certain  of  his  friends. 

Mechanical  Science. — (2)  The  friendship  of  ...  . 
materially  influenced  my  career. 


§ G. INFLUENCE  AND  ENCOURAGEMENT  OF  TUTORS. 

This  group  of  thirteen  cases  refers  to  the  influence 
and  encouragement  of  masters,  tutors,  and  professors. 
It  is  a small  one  ; not  because  persons  in  those  positions 
are  incapable  of  exerting  much  salutary  influence,  but 
because  the  scientific  men  on  my  list  seldom  had  the 
advantage  of  receiving  congenial  instruction.  This  is 
clearly  proved  by  a comparison  of  the  replies  referring 
to  Scotch  and  to  English  tuition.  In  Scotland,  the  uni- 
versity programme  and  the  general  method  of  teaching 
are  much  more  suited  to  men  of  a scientific  bent  of  mind 


162 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


than  those  ha  England ; consequently  the  influence  of 
tutors  has  been  testified  to  far  more  abundantly  by  those 
men  on  my  list  who  have  been  educated  in  Scotland  than 
by  the  rest.  The  proportions  are  striking  and  instruc- 
tive. I find  that  about  one-sixth  of  those  from  whom  I 
have  received  returns  have  studied  in  Scotland;  hence, 
if  professorial  influences  had  been  equally  efficacious  on 
both  sides  of  the  Tweed,  there  would  have  been  five 
times  as  many  expressions  of  gratitude  to  English  teach- 
ers as  to  Scotch.  But  the  facts  show  that  no  less  than 
eight  out  of  the  thirteen  cases  refer  to  teachers  in  Scot- 
land, one  to  a Scotch  teacher  settled  in  England,  and 
only  four  to  English  professors.  It  would  have  been 
(8x5=)  40,  and  not  4,  if  the  English  education  had 
been  as  profitable  to  science  as  the  Scotch.  1 willingly 
admit  that  the  smallness  of  the  numbers,  namely,  only 
thirteen  cases,  renders  precise  figures  open  to  question ; 
however,  the  superiority  of  the  Scotch  system  is  sup- 
ported by  other  evidence,  which  I shall  speak  of  in  the 
chapter  on  Education. 

Physics  and  Mathematics. — (7)  I believe  the  origin 
was  when  I attended  the  natural  philosophy  classes  at 
. . . . (10)  Tastes  confirmed  by  lectures,  and  espe- 

cially by  the  encouragement  of  [certain  professors]. 
(20)  Interest  hi  mathematics  due  to  the  encourage- 
ment of  . . . .,  and  influence  of  [professors  at  a uni- 
versity]. 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  1G3 


Chemistry. — (7)  Chiefly  to  being  sent  as  a pupil  to 
an  eminent  man  of  science. 

Geology. — (5)  Lectures  by  ...  . 

Zoology. — (5)  My  scientific  tastes  were  largely  pro- 
moted by  the  attractive  teaching  of  ...  . [various  pro- 
fessors]. (17)  And  to  being  the  assistant  and  close 
companion  of  ...  . (24)  I can  trace  it  [in  part]  dis- 

tinctly to  my  intercourse  with  certain  professors. 

Botany.— (F)  I date  my  first  efforts  of  any  conse- 
quence from  an  early  intimacy  with  . . . .,  whose  pupil 
and  assistant  I was  ; the  necessity  of  accurate  work  then 
dawned  upon  me.  (6)  The  companionship  of  ...  . 
incited  me  to  prosecute  botany  with  vigor  ; I was  one  of 
his  best  pupils,  and  traveled  with  him. 

Medical  Science. — (4)  Subsequently,  by  the  approval 
of  teachers,  having  been  selected  chief-assistant. 

Statistics. — (4)  Very  clear  occasional  lectures,  when 
a boy,  on  moral  and  economical  subjects ; the  tastes 
were  afterward  developed  by  a good  education.  (6) 

Prof ’s  lectures  were  the  origin  of  my  interest  in 

geology.  [It  was  the  earliest  scientific  pursuit  of  this 
correspondent.] 


Mechanical  Science. — None. 


164 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


§ H. TRAVEL  IN  DISTANT  PARTS. 

There  are  only  eight  cases  in  this  group,  namely, 
those  in  which  the  aspects  of  Nature  under  new  condi- 
tions have  developed  a love  for  science.  Few  men  of 
scientific  training  have  had  opportunities  of  distant  trav- 
el, but  on  those  few  their  action  has  been  very  strong, 
especially  as  regards  biologists  and  physicists.  I say 
nothing  here  in  respect  to  mere  geographers,  and  quote 
none  of  their  replies,  because  its  importance  to  them 
requires  neither  proof  nor  comment.  Men  are  too  apt 
to  accept  as  an  axiomatic  law,  not  capable  of  further  ex- 
planation, whatever  they  see  recurring  day  after  day 
without  fail.  So  the  dog  hi  the  back-yard  looks  on  the 
daily  arrival  of  the  postman,  butcher,  and  baker,  as  so 
many  elementary  phenomena,  not  to  be  barked  at  or 
wondered  about.  Travel  in  distant  countries,  by  un- 
settling these  quasi-axiomatic  ideas,  restores  to  the  edu- 
cated man  the  freshness  of  childhood  in  observing  new 
things  and  in  seeking  reasons  for  all  he  sees. 

I believe  that  a handsome  endowment  of  traveling 
fellowships,  thoroughly  well  paid,  with  extra  allowance 
for  any  special  work  allotted  to  their  holders,  given  only 
to  young  men  of  high  qualifications,  and  lasting  for  at 
least  five  years,  would  be  money  well  bestowed  in  the 
furtherance  of  science. 


Physics  and  Mathematics. — (3)  To  some  extent  my 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  165 


tastes  were  determined  by  events  after  manhood,  be- 
cause for  ten  years  I held  positions  of  great  responsibil- 
ity [in  distant  parts  of  the  world],  but  I consider  they 
were  formed  in  my  youth.  (9)  Ocean-voyaging  in  the 
beginning  of  life  ; solitary  observing  for  years  in  a coun- 
try verging  on  a desert  under  southern  skies.  (13)  The 
distinct  origin  ....  was  the  wonderful  effect  produced 
on  me  by  the  aspects  of  Nature,  as  seen  in  the  . . . ., 
combined  with  what  I may  call  the  accident  of  having 
been  allowed  to  explore  part  of  it  in  an  official  capacity. 
(14)  Largely  determined  by  my  service  in  north-polar 
and  equatorial  expeditions. 

Chemistry. — N one. 

Geology. — (7)  Subsequently  much  influenced  by  be- 
ing thrown,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  on  my  own  judgment 
and  resources  in  founding  a mining  colony  in  the  back- 
woods  of  . . . .,  and  carrying  it  out  quite  alone. 

Zoology. — (2)  Strongly  confirmed  and  directed  by 
the  voyage  in  the  ....  (13)  My  appointment  to  the 

surveying-ship  ....  made  me  a comparative  anatomist, 
by  affording  opportunities  for  the  investigation  of  the 
structure  of  the  lower  animals. 

Botany. — (5)  They  were  directed  to  botany  purely 
through  accidental  circumstances  [which  led  to  a pro- 
longed residence  in  an  imperfectly  civilized  country]. 


166 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


g Z. UNCLASSED  RESIDUUM. 

We  now  come  to  the  final  group,  namely,  those  in- 
fluences which  cannot  be  sorted  into  any  of  the  eight 
groups  with  definite  titles,  which  we  have  already  exam- 
ined. At  the  outset  1 spoke  of  these  unclassed  condi- 
tions as  forming  a class  by  themselves  of  no  great  im- 
portance, and  which  might  be  indefinitely  reduced  in  pro- 
portion as  we  chose  to  pursue  our  analysis.  I estimate 
that  the  ninety-one  replies  which  I have  received  and 
analyzed  assign  a total  of  one  hundred  and  ninety-one 
causes.  It  now  appears  that  no  iess  than  one  hundred 
and  eighty-eight  of  these  fall  into  one  or  other  of  eight 
definite  groups,  and  that  there  remain  only  three  on  our 
hands  for  the  unclassed  residuum.  Even  these  are  ap- 
parently due  to  aggregates  of  conditions,  the  more  im- 
portant of  which  would  probably  find  their  place  among 
the  eight  groups,  leaving  a still  minuter  residue.  We 
may  lightly  dismiss  them  as  of  inappreciably  small  im- 
portance in  our  present  inquiry. 

Chemistry. — (10)  Entirely  due  to  circumstances  after 
manhood,  and  in  direct  opposition  to  family  influences. 
(11)  To  opportunity  at  [a  foreign  university]. 

Geology. — (8)  The  tastes  developed  gradually  after 
manhood. 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  167 


SUMMARY. 

If  we  take  a general  survey  of  our  national  stock  of 
capabilities  and  their  produce,  we  see  that  the  larger 
part  is  directed  to  gain  daily  bread  and  necessary  luxu- 
ries, and  to  keep  the  great  social  machine  in  steady 
work.  The  surplus  is  considerable,  and  may  be  disposed 
of  in  various  ways.  Let  us  now  put  ourselves  in  the 
position  of  advocates  of  science  solely,  and  consider  from 
that  point  of  view  how  the  surplus  capabilities  of  the 
nation  might  be  diverted  to  its  furtherance.  How  can 
the  tastes  of  men  be  most  powerfully  acted  upon,  to 
affect  them  toward  science  1 

The  large  category  (a)  of  innate  tastes  is  practically 
beyond  our  immediate  influence  ; but,  though  we  cannot 
increase  the  national  store,  we  need  not  waste  it,  as 
we  do  now.  Every  instance  in  which  a man  having  an 
aptitude  to  succeed  in  science  is  tempted,  by  circum- 
stances which  might  be  controlled,  to  occupy  himself 
with  subjects  of  less  national  value,  is  a public  calamity. 
Aptitudes  and  tastes  for  occupations  which  enrich  the 
thoughts  and  productive  powers  of  man  are  as  much 
articles  of  national  wealth  as  coal  and  iron,  and  their 
waste  is  as  reprehensible.  Educational  monopolies 
which  offer  numerous  and  great  prizes  for  work  of  other 
descriptions,  have  caused  enormous  waste  of  scientific 
ability,  by  inducing  those  who  might  have  succeeded  in 
science  to  spend  their  energies  with  small  effect  on  un- 


168 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


congenial  occupations.  When  a pursuit  is  instinctive 
and  the  will  is  untaxed,  an  immense  amount  of  Avork 
may  be  accomplished  with  ease.  Witness,  to  take  an 
extreme  case,  the  sustained  action  of  the  wholly  involun- 
tary muscles.  The  heart  does  its  work  unceasingly, 
[from  birth  to  death  ; and  it  is  no  light  Avork,  but  such  as 
the  arm,  Avorking  a pump-handle,  would  soon  weary  of 
maintaining.  Or  again,  think  of  the  migratory  flight  of 
birds  in  obedience  to  an  instinct ; or  of  the  muscular 
force,  astonishing  both  in  magnitude  and  endurance,  ex- 
hibited by  lunatics,  who  have  some  real  though  morbid 
passion  Avhich  goads  them  to  exercise  it.  Wre  must 
therefore  learn  to  respect  innate  tastes,  which  directly, 
as  in  a,  or  indirectly,  as  in  c,  seiwe  the  cause  of  science. 
As  regards  b (the  fortunate  accidents),  we  can  multiply 
opportunities.  There  is  great  hope  in  respect  to  d (the 
professional  influences).  It  is  clear  to  all  Avho  have 
knoAvledge  of  the  scope  of  modern  science,  that  there 
exists  an  immense  deal  of  national  Avork  which  has  to  be 
performed,  and  Avhich  none  but  men  of  scientific  culture 
are  qualified  to  undertake.  Scientific  superintendence  is 
required  for  all  kinds  of  technical  education,  for  statisti- 
cal investigations  of  innumerable  kinds,  and  deductions 
from  them  ; for  sanitary  administration  in  the  broadest 
sense ; for  agriculture,  mining,  industrial  occupations, 
Avar,  engineering.  There  is  eArery where  a demand  for 
scientific  assessors,  Avho  shall  discover  hoAv  to  economize 
effort  and  find  out  neAv  processes  and  fruitful  principles. 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  169 


Professional  duties  generally  ought  to  be  more  closely 
bound  up  with  strictly  scientific  work  than  they  are  at 
present ; and  this  requirement  would  tend  to  foster  sci- 
entific tastes  in  minds  which  had  little  inborn  tendency 
that  way.  In  respect  to  g (the  influence  and  encourage- 
ment of  tutors),  seeing  how  far  Scotland  has  surpassed 
England  in  the  attractiveness  of  her  mode  of  teaching, 
which  is  by  professorial  lectures  rather  than  by  class- 
work,  it  is  clear  that  the  English  system  admits  of  being 
greatly  improved,  and  the  influence  of  her  teachers  pro- 
portionately increased,  in  turning  the  minds  of  youths  to 
science.  Lastly,  as  regards  h (travel  in  distant  lands), 
its  indirect  value  deserves  far  more  than  the  moderate 
sums  assigned  to  its  prosecution,  in  the  way  of  starved 
traveling  fellowships  and  rare  voyages  of  surveying- 
ships. 

To  sum  up  in  a few  words  : it  seems  to  me  that  the 
interpretation  to  be  put  on  the  replies  we  have  now  been 
considering,  is  that  a love  of  science  might  be  largely 
extended  by  fostering,  and  not  thwarting,  innate  tenden- 
cies, by  the  extension  of  scientific  professional  appoint- 
ments and  professorships,  by  assimilating  in  some  cases 
the  English  system  of  teaching  to  that  of  the  Scotch, 
and  by  creating  traveling  and  other  fellowships  which 
shall  enable  their  holders  to  view  Nature  in  various 
aspects,  and  to  work  with  foreigners  whose  habits  of 
thought  are  fruitful  in  themselves,  but  of  a different 
kind  to  our  own. 


170 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


I will  take  this  opportunity  of  drawing  attention  to 
what  appears  to  me  one  of  the  greatest  of  desiderata  of 
this  kind  at  the  present  day,  namely,  the  establishment 
of  medical  fellowships  amply  sufficient  to  enable  the 
best  youths,  who  intend  to  follow  medicine  as  a profes- 
sion, to  spend  their  early  manhood  in  prosecuting  inde- 
pendent medical  researches.  I appeal  to  capitalists,  who 
know  not  what  use,  free  from  abuse,  to  make  of  their 
surplus  wealth,  to  consider  this  want.  They  might 
greatly  improve  the  practical  skill  of  the  English  medi- 
cal profession  by  affording  opportunities  of  prolonged 
study.  They  might,  perhaps,  themselves  reap  some  part 
of  the  benefit  of  it.  A young  medical  man  has  now  to 
waste  the  most  vigorous  years  of  his  life  in  miserable 
routine  work  simply  to  obtain  bread,  until  he  has  been 
able  to  establish  his  reputation.  He  has  no  breathing- 
time allowed  him  ; the  cares  of  mature  life  press  too 
closely  upon  his  student-days  to  give  him  the  opportuni- 
ties of  prolonged  study  that  are  necessary  to  accomplish 
him  for  his  future  profession. 

The  influences  we  have  been  considering  are  those 
which  urge  men  to  pursue  science,  rather  than  literature, 
politics,  or  other  careers  ; but  we  must  not  forget  that 
there  are  deep  and  obscure  movements  of  national  life, 
which  may  quicken  or  depress  the  effective  ability  of  the 
nation  as  a whole.  I have  not  considered  the  reasons 
why  one  period  is  more  productive  of  great  men  than 
another,  my  inquiry  being  limited,  for  the  reasons  stated 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE,  171 


in  the  first  pages  of  this  book,  to  one  period  and  nation. 
But  it  may  be  remarked  that  the  national  condition 
most  favorable  to  general  efficiency  is  one  of  self-confi- 
dence, and  eager  belief  in  the  existence  of  great  works 
capable  of  accomplishment.  The  opposite  attitude  is 
indifferentism,  founded  on  sheer  uncertainty  of  what  is 
best  to  do,  or  on  despair  of  being  strong  enough  to 
achieve  useful  results ; a feeling  such  as  that  which  has 
generally  existed  in  recent  years  among  wealthy  men  in 
respect  to  pauperism  and  charitable  gifts.  A common 
effect  of  indifferentism  is  to  dissipate  the  energy  of  the 
nation  upon  trifles ; and  this  tendency  seems  to  be  a 
crying  evil  of  the  present  day  in  our  own  country.  In 
illustration  of  this  view,  I will  quote  the  following  ex- 
tract from  a letter  of  one  of  my  correspondents,  who,  I 
should  add,  is  singularly  well  qualified  to  form  a just 
opinion  on  the  matter  to  which  he  so  forcibly  calls  atten- 
tion : “ The  principal  hinderance  to  inquiry  and  all  other 
intellectual  progress,  in  the  people  of  whom  I see  much, 
is  the  elaborate  machinery  for  wasting  time  which  has 
been  invented  and  recommended  under  the  name  of 
‘ social  duties.’  Considering  the  mental  and  material 
capital  of  which  the  richer  classes  have  the  disposal,  I 
believe  that  much  more  than  half  the  progressive  force 
of  the  nation  runs  to  waste  from  this  cause.” 

A great  deal  of  energy  is  wasted  in  attempting  to 
seize  more  than  can  be  grasped.  There  is  a feverish  ten- 
dency, fostered  by  the  daily  press,  to  interest  one’s  self 


172 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


in  all  that  goes  on,  which  leads  to  perpetual  distraction, 
and  curtails  the  time  available  for  serious  and  sustained 
effort.  It  may  be  worth  while  to  mention  a curious  lit- 
tle morbid  experience  of  my  own,  as  suggestive  of  much 
more  mischief ; it  is  this  : A few  years  ago  I had  fool- 
ishly overworked  myself,  as  many  others  have  done, 
misled  by  a perverted  instinct,  which  goaded  to  increased 
exertion  instead  of  dictating  rest.  The  consequence  was, 
that  I fairly  broke  down,  and  could  not  for  some  days 
even  look  at  a book  or  any  sort  of  writing.  I went 
abroad ; and,  though  I grew  much  better  and  could 
amuse  myself  with  books,  the  first  town  where  I experi- 
enced real  repose  was  Rome.  There  was  no  doubt  of 
the  influence  of  the  place — it  was  strongly  marked  ; and 
for  a long  time  I sought  in  vain  for  the  reason  of  it.  At 
last,  what  I accept  as  a full  and  adequate  explanation 
occurred  to  me — simply,  that  there  were  no  advertise- 
ments on  the  walls.  There  was  a picturesqueness  and 
grandeur  in  its  streets  which  sufficed  to  fill  the  mind,  and 
there  were  no  petty  distractions  to  fret  a weakened  eye 
and  brain.  When  we  are  in  health  we  take  little  count 
of  the  racket  of  English  life,  which  may  keep  apathetic 
minds  from  stagnation,  but  which  causes  needless  wear 
and  tear  to  active  ones,  suggesting  nothing  useful,  and 
teasing,  distracting,  and  wearying.  I have  heard  Ger- 
man professors  speak  with  wonder  at  our  waste  of  ener- 
gy in  mere  fidget,  and  in  so-called  amusements,  which 
are  mostly  very  dull,  and  ascribe  the  successful  labori- 


ORIGIN  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  173 


ousuess  of  their  own  countrymen  to  the  greater  sim- 
plicity of  the  lives  they  lead ; and  they  are  a happier 
people  than  we  are. 

Partial  Failures. — W e have  seen  that  energy,  health, 
steady  pursuit  of  purpose,  business  habits,  independence 
of  views,  and  a strong  innate  taste  for  science,  are  gen- 
erally combined  in  the  character  of  a successful  scientific 
man.  Probably  one-half  of  the  men  on  my  list  possess 
every  one  of  these  qualities  in  a considerable,  and  some 
in  a high  degree.  If  one  or  more  of  these  qualities  be 
deficient,  success  becomes  impossible,  unless  its  absence 
be  appropriately  supplemented  by  other  qualities  or  con- 
ditions. Cases  may  be  specified  in  which  too  few  of  the 
above-mentioned  qualities  were  present,  and  which  con- 
sequently ended  hi  an  abortive  career.  One  is  the  pos- 
session of  energy,  health,  and  independence  of  character 
in  excess,  and  little  else  to  control  them.  These  are 
dangerous  gifts.  Those  who  have  them  are  apt  to  re- 
nounce guidances  by  which  the  great  body  of  mankind 
move  safely,  and  to  follow  out  a career  in  which  they 
are  almost  certain  to  blunder  and  fail  egregiously. 
Probably  every  large  emigrant-ship  takes  out  many 
such  men,  full  of  unjustifiable  self-confidence,  who,  to 
use  a current  phrase,  “ knock  about  in  the  world,”  waste 
their  health,  youth,  and  opportunities,  and  end  broken- 
down.  Another  case  is  that  in  which  a strong  innate 
taste  for  science  is  accompanied  by  independence  of 


174 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


character  and  steadiness  of  pursuit,  hut  with  no  other 
quality  helpful  to  success,  and  which  therefore  leads  to 
no  useful  result.  There  is  hardly  a village  where  some 
ingenious  man  may  not  be  found,  who  has  ideas  and 
much  shrewdness,  but  is  crotchety  and  impracticable. 
He  wants  energy  and  business  habits,  so  he  never  rises. 
Many  of  these  men  brood  over  subjects  like  perpetual 
motion  : their  peculiarities  are  well  illustrated  in  De 
Morgan’s  “ Book  of  Paradoxes.”  Again,  we  frequently 
meet  persons  of  a stamp  that  justifies  the  old-fashioned 
caricature  of  scientific  men,  who  are  absorbed  in  some 
petty  investigation,  utterly  deficient  in  business  habits, 
and  noted  for  absence  of  mind.  Even  idiots  have  often 
strongly  quasi-scientific  tastes,  as  love  for  simple  mech- 
anism, or  objects  of  natural  history ; and  they  have,  as 
already  remarked,  a pleasure  in  collecting.  Madmen 
have  often  persistency,  as  is  shown  by  their  brooding  on 
a single  topic.  We  all  of  us  must  have  met  with  curi- 
ous cases  of  failures,  where  a mind  and  disposition  that 
promise  much  for  success  never  achieve  it.  It  may  be 
that  some  mental  screw  is  loose,  or  there  is  some  irrep- 
arable weakness  of  judgment,  or  some  untimely  irreso- 
lution or  rashness  : any  fault  of  this  kind  is  sufficient  to 
mar  a man’s  chances  when  competition  is  keen.  To  ob- 
tain the  highest  order  of  success,  two  things  are  wanted  : 
first,  the  qualities  of  the  man  must  either  be  good  all 
round,  or  else  he  must  be  so  circumstanced  as  to  be  able, 
when  the  need  arises,  to  supplement  his  deficiencies  by 


ORIGIN'  OF  TASTE  FOR  SCIENCE.  175 


extraneous  help  ; secondly,  lie  must  have  some  very  use- 
ful qualities  highly  developed.  It  is  said  that  “ genius  ” 
is  required  for  high  success,  and  there  is  much  talk  about 
what  genius  is,  and  on  the  failures  of  men  of  genius  ; 
while  some  persons  go  so  far  as  to  doubt  the  existence 
of  genius  as  a separate  quality.  It  appears  to  me  that 
what  is  generally  meant  by  genius,  when  the  word  is 
used  in  a special  sense,  is  the  automatic  activity  of  the 
mind,  as  distinguished  from  the  effort  of  the  will.  In  a 
man  of  genius  the  ideas  come  as  by  inspiration;  in  other 
words,  his  character  is  enthusiastic,  his  mental  associa- 
tions are  rapid,  numerous,  and  firm,  his  imagination  is 
vivid,  and  he  is  driven  rather  than  drives  himself.  All 
men  have  some  genius  ; they  are  all  apt,  under  excite- 
ment, to  show  flashes  of  unusual  enthusiasm,  and  to  ex- 
perience swift  and  strange  associations  of  ideas.  In 
dreams,  all  men  commonly  exhibit  more  vivid  powers  of 
imagination  than  are  possessed  by  the  greatest  artists 
when  awake.  Sober,  plodding  will  is  quite  another  qual- 
ity, and  its  over-exercise  exhausts  the  more  sprightly 
functions  of  the  mind,  as  is  expressed 'in  the  proverb, 
“ Too  much  work  makes  a dull  boy.”  But  no  man  is 
likely  to  achieve  very  high  success  in  whom  the  auto- 
matic power  of  the  mind,  or  genius  in  its  special  sense, 
and  a sober  will,  are  not  well  developed  and  fairly  bal- 
anced. 


CHAPTER  "IV. 

EDUCATION. 

Preliminary — Education  praised  throughout,  or  nearly  so— Merits  in 
Education. — Merits  and  demerits  balanced — Demerits — Summary 
— Conclusion. 

I now  pass  on  to  the  education  which  the  scientific 
men  had  in  their  youth,  in  the  hope  that  my  results  may 
give  assistance  to  those  who  are  endeavoring  to  frame 
systems  of  education  suitable  to  the  wants  of  the  day. 
What  I have  to  say  is  very  partial ; it  refers  solely  to 
the  opinions  the  scientific  men  entertain  of  the  merits 
and  faults  of  their  own  several  educations  in  by-gone 
days.  Their  vie\vs  are  remarkably  unanimous,  consider- 
ing the  very  different  branches  of  inquiry  they  are  inter- 
ested in,  and  the  great  dissimilarities  in  their  education. 

One-tliird  of  those  who  sent  replies  have  been  edu- 
cated at  Oxford  or  Cambridge,  one-third  at  Scotch,  Irish, 
or  London  universities,  and  the  remaining  third  at  no 
university  at  all.  I am  totally  unable  to  decide  which 
of  the  three  groups  occupies  the  highest  scientific  po- 


EDUCATION . 


177 


sitiou  : they  seem  to  me  very  much  alike  in  this  re- 
spect. 

The  questions  to  which  the  following  replies  were 
given  were  as  follows  : “ Was  your  education  especially 
conducive  to,  or  restrictive  of,  habits  of  observation  % ” 
“Was  your  education  eminently  conducive  to  health,  or 
the  reverse  1 ” “ What  do  you  consider  to  have  been 

peculiar  merits  in  your  education  1 ” “ What  were  the 
chief  omissions  in  it,  and  what  faults  of  commission  can 
you  indicate  ? ” I also  asked  for  information  concerning 
the  places  of  education,  both  schools  and  colleges,  and  as 
regards  home  and  self-instruction.  The  answers  were, 
in  some  cases,  very  interesting  from  their  minute  elab- 
oration, but  I am,  of  course,  restricted  on  this  occasion 
to  a simple  treatment  of  them.  I cannot  now  paint  with 
delicate  tints,  but  must  content  myself  with  broad  lights 
and  shades.  The  following  answers  are  extracts,  and,  in 
some  few  cases,  abstracts  ; they  convey  the  general  tone 
of  the  several  replies  as  nearly  as  possible. 

The  groups  under  which  I have  sorted  them  are  these  : 

Merits  : 

Education  praised  throughout,  or  nearly  so  .10  replies. 

Variety  of  subjects 10  “ 

A little  science  at  school 3 “ 

Simple  things  ■well  taught 3 “ 

Liberty  and  leisure 3 “ 

Home  teaching  and  encouragement  ...  8 “ 

Merits  and  demerits  balanced 4 “ 


178 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


Demerits  : 

Narrow  education 32  replies. 

Want  of  system  and  bad  teaching  . . . . 10  “ 

Unclassed 4 “ 

Total 87  “ 


There  are  a few  cases  in  which  an  answer,  already 
given  in  combination,  lias  been  extracted  and  repeated. 

MERITS  : EDUCATION  PRAISED  THROUGHOUT,  OR  NEARLY 

SO TEN  CASES. 

(1)  “Was  admirably  taught,  between  the  ages  of 
thirteen  and  sixteen  and  a half  years,  to  reason,  use  my 
own  mind,  and  depend  on  myself.  Was  taught  to  ac- 
quire large  masses  of  information  by  reading.  There 
was  a little  tendency  to  a vagrant  style  of  reading,  but 
this  was  probably  neutralized  by  other  influences.” 

(2)  “Well  taught  in  classics  and  mathematics.  If 
possible,  my  education  should  have  afforded  facilities  for 
the  study  of  the  science  of  observation,  but  I doubt  the 
practicability  of  this  at  school.  While  a school-boy  I 
taught  myself  botany,  chemistry,  etc.,  under  great  dis- 
advantages.” 

(3)  “ Careful  and  good  early  education  at  home  by 
my  mother  and  father ; then,  rather  strict  training  by 


EDUCATION. 


179 


my  father  and  by  my  first  school-master.  Being  care- 
fully looked  after  by  my  father,  and  expected  to  do 
my  best.” 

(4)  “ My  education  was  well  balanced ; it  was  gen- 
eral and  of  a very  complete  kind,  including  chemistry, 
botany,  logic,  and  political  economy ; but  three  years 
(between  the  ages  of  twelve  and  fifteen)  spent  in  learn- 
ing the  Latin  and  Greek  grammars  were  a blank  waste 
of  time.” 

(5)  “ Education  included  French,  German,  logic,  nat- 
ural philosophy,  chemistry,  besides  mathematics.  I 
lived  in  a house  where  I saw  many  people  whose  inter 
ests  were  of  various  kinds,  and  I went  to  a day-school 
where  I mixed  with  the  boys  only  when  they  were  fresh 
and  active.  Thus  I had  two  outer  worlds  to  balance 
agahist  each  other.  On  the  whole,  I had,  I think,  the 
greatest  degree  of  freedom  possible  to  a boy.” 

(6)  “Was  at  school  till  sixteen  years  of  age,  and 
with  a tutor  in  Germany  for  six  months ; after  then, 
technical  training  and  teaching.  The  education  was  con- 
ducive both  to  observation  and  health.  Variety  of  sub- 
jects and  attention  to  details.  A combination  of  home 
and  school  education,  my  father  having  been  head-master 
of  the  school.” 

(7)  “ My  father  being  a school-master,  I was  at  some 

9 


180 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


sort  of  school-work  nearly  all  my  life,  but  from  the  age 
of  twelve  I was  occupied  more  in  teaching  than  in  learn- 
ing. My  education  included  the  various  subjects  usually 
taught  in  English  schools,  with  something  of  astronomy, 
pneumatics,  electricity,  and  mechanics.  I learned  much 
in  convei'sation  with  my  father,  which  chiefly  took  an  in- 
structive form.  Was  led  to  think  and  speak  freely; 
also  to  engage  frequently  in  domestic  discussions  on 
questions  of  general  policy.  I had  also  early  access  to 
tools  and  materials.” 

(8)  “ I was  fortunate  in  obtaining  at  school  (between 
the  ages  of  eight  and  sixteen)  an  insight  into  the  phe- 
nomena of  Nature — a subject  entirely  ignored  at  that 
time  in  almost  all  schools.  My  peculiar  bent  for  experi- 
ment was  encouraged  at  home  by  my  mother,  and  there 

were  peculiar  merits  in  my  training  under  Profs 

at  . . . .,  and  especially  in  Germany,  under  . . . .” 

(9)  “ The  steadiness  with  which  I was  taught,  by  one 
eccentric  school-master,  reading  and  accurate  spelling, 
clear,  neat,  and  intelligible  writing,  and  quick  and  accu- 
rate computation  by  all  the  primary  rules  of  arithmetic. 
Faults  in  these  several  branches  were  never  overlooked, 
and  all  competition  was  for  excellence  in  each ; Latin 
and  French  were  evidently  thrown  in  to  please  parents. 
Going  to  sea  at  the  age  of  thirteen,  I really  think  I start- 
ed with  the  best  education  I could  have  had.  Compared 


EDUCATION. 


181 


with  my  youthful  messmates,  some  of  whom  had  passed 
through  public  schools,  I was  far  their  superior  in  writing 
(I  soon  acquired  chart-drawing  and  sketching  from  Na- 
ture), and  in  calculation  of  the  day’s  work,  and  in  astro- 
nomical observations.” 


MERITS  IN  EDUCATION  : VARIETY  OF  SUBJECTS NINE 

REPLIES. 

(1)  “ Not  tied  down  to  old  courses  of  classics  and 
mathematics.” 

(2)  “ My  master  (between  the  ages  of  fifteen  and 
seventeen)  was  a man  of  scientific  and  generally  liberal 
turn  of  mind.” 

(3)  “ Sufficient  ground-work  hi  many  subjects  to 
avoid  error.” 

(4)  “ Early  introduced  to  many  subjects  of  interest.” 

(5)  “ A well-balanced  education  [including  chemistry, 
botany,  logic,  and  political  economy].” 

(6)  “A  variety  of  subjects  and  attention  to  de- 
tails. Coming  in  contact  with  persons  of  every  rank 
[in  Scoland],  and  sitting  on  the  same  form  with  the 
sons  of  tradesmen  and  ploughmen,  as  well  as  of  gen- 
tlemen.” 


182 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


(7  and  8)  Two  cases ; both  [being  Englishmen] 
praise  Scotch  system  of  education. 

(9)  “ Living  in  a house  where  there  were  many  in- 
terests, and  going  thence  to  a day-school,  where  there 
were  other  and  different  ones.” 

MERITS  IN  EDUCATION  : A LITTLE  SCIENCE  AT  SCHOOL 

THREE  REPLIES. 

(1)  “ Only  one  good  thing;  that  was  object-lessons, 
though  given  badly,  and  only  for  a short  time.” 

(2)  “ All  the  merits  [of  my  schooling]  I attribute  to 
a little  elementary  physics  and  chemistry,  taught  me  be- 
tween the  ages  of  seven  and  thirteen.” 

(3)  “ Science  taught  me  at  school,  between  the  ages 
of  eleven  and  sixteen.” 

MERITS  IN  EDUCATION  : SIMPLE  THINGS  WELL  TAUGHT 

THREE  REPLIES. 

(1)  “Clear,  neat,  j and  intelligible  writing,  accurate 
spelling,  and  simple  computation.” 

(2)  “Was  very  well  grounded  in  arithmetic  at 
school.” 

(3)  “ Forced  accuracy  of  delineation  at  home,  be- 
tween the  ages  of  fourteen  and  sixteen.” 


EDUCATION. 


183 


MERITS  IN  EDUCATION  : LIBERTY  AND  LEISURE THREE 

REPLIES. 

(!)  “Unusual  degree  of  freedom.” 

(2)  “ Freedom  to  follow  my  own  inclinations  and 
choose  my  own  subjects  of  study,  or  the  reverse.” 

(3)  “ The  great  proportion  of  time  left  free  to  do  as 
I liked,  unwatched  and  uncontrolled.” 


MERITS  IN  EDUCATION  : HOME  TEACHING  AND  HOME  EN- 
COURAGEMENT  EIGHT  REPLIES. 

(1)  “ Encouragement  by  my  mother.” 

(2)  “ Encouragement  by  my  father.” 

(3)  “ Carefully  looked  after  by  my  father,  and  ex- 
pected to  do  my  best.” 

(4)  (See  (7),  in  “ Education  praised  throughout,  or 
nearly  so.”) 

(5)  “ During  one  year  (aged  seventeen)  I resided 
and  studied  with  my  uncle  [by  marriage],  and  learned 
there  more  of  the  dead  languages  than  in  all  my  school- 
time.” 

(6)  “ My  private  education  at  home  was  much  the 
more  valuable.” 


184 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


(7)  “ Home  and  self-education  developed  my  observ- 
ing faculties.” 

(8)  “ Pretty  much  self-taught,  but  encouraged  to  use 
my  eyes,  wits,  and  independent  thought.” 

MERITS  AND  DEMERITS  IN  EDUCATION  BALANCED FOUR 

REPLIES. 

(1)  “ Left  to  myself,  and  I pursued  a discursive  line. 
As  compared  with  ordinary  schools,  I think  self-teaching 
has  many  advantages  for  boys  of  active  minds ; but  intel- 
ligent teaching,  and  insisting  on  accuracy  and  complete- 
ness, would  have  produced  a much  more  efficient  man.” 

(2)  “ The  merits  of  my  education  consisted  in  the 
great  number  of  studies  connected  •with  Nature  ; but 
there  was  a want  of  system  and  of  consecutive  study.” 

(3)  “ The  demerit  of  my  education  was  the  want  of 
being  thoroughly  grounded  ; this  gave  me  great  trouble, 
but  made  me  think  for  myself — often  an  advantage  to 
me.” 

(4)  “ No  sound  instruction ; the  education  was  too 
general  and  desultory,  but  it  gave  wide  interest.” 

DEMERITS  : NARROW  EDUCATION THIRTT-TWO  CASES. 

(1)  “ No  mathematics  nor  modern  languages,  nor 
any  habits  of  observation  or  reasoning.” 


EDUCATION. 


1S5 


(2)  “ Enormous  time  devoted  to  Latin  and  Greek, 
with  which  languages  I am  not  conversant.” 

(3)  “ Omission  of  almost  every  thing  useful  and 
good,  except  being  taught  to  read.  Latin  ! Latin  ! 
Latin  ! ” 

(4)  “ Latin  through  Latin — nonsense  verses.” 

(5)  “ Limitation  of  subjects  practically  to  classics.” 

(6)  “ Absence  of  any  scientific  training ; too  much 
confined  to  classics.” 

(7)  “Omission  of  mathematics,  German,  and  draw- 
ing.” 

(8)  “ Latin  and  Greek  were  more  insisted  on  than 
modern  languages.” 

(9)  “ In  an  otherwise  well-balanced  education,  three 
years  (between  the  ages  of  twelve  and  fifteen)  at  a pri- 
vate school  were  spent  on  Latin  and  Greek  grammar — 
a blank  waste  of  time.” 

(10)  “ School-work  directed  to  the  cultivation  of  lit- 
erary tastes  only,  and  therefore  not  adapted  to  a variety 
of  intellects.” 

(11)  “ Elements  of  natural  science  omitted  ; nothing 
taught  of  the  nature  of  the  world  around  us.” 


186 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


(12)  “Not  taught  mathematics,  nor  any  natural  sci- 
ence, to  which  I could  have  taken  con  amove.” 

(13)  “Absence  of  instruction  in  the  modern  lan- 
guages.” 

(14)  “ Want  of  the  modern  languages  and  of  chem- 
istry.” 

(15)  “ Want  of  logical  and  mathematical  training.” 

(10)  “Want  of  training  in  the  habits  of  observation.” 

(17)  “ Neglect  of  mathematics  ; too  much  reliance 
on  mere  work  of  memory.  Mental  training  overlooked 
in  the  mere  acquisition  of  routine.” 

(18)  “ I could  now  wish  that  I had  gone  through,  at 
the  university,  a good  course  of  chemistry  and  physics, 
as  a preparation  for  the  other  branches ; but  the  mam 
obstacle  was  lack  of  time.” 

(19)  “ Want  of  education  of  faculties  of  observa- 
tion ; want  of  mathematics,  and  of  modern  languages.” 

(20)  “ Not  allowing  my  mind  to  follow  its  natural 
bias.” 

(21)  “Neglect  of  many  subjects  for  the  attainment 
of  one  or  two ; not  pushing  mathematics  to  a useful 
end.” 


EDUCATION. 


1ST 


(22)  “ Not  enough  liberty  ; put  back  by  too  much 
grounding  at  Cambridge.” 

(23)  “At  school  the  classical  education,  viz.,  con- 
struing, parsing,  and  learning  grammatical  rules,  was  not 
to  my  taste.  At  Oxford  I wasted  much  time,  having  lit- 
tle sympathy  with  the  university  pursuits  and  habits.” 

(24)  “ Having  so  exclusively  devoted  myself  to 
mathematics  at  Cambridge.” 

(25)  “ The  classical  teaching  was  said  to  be  good, 
but  I did  not  assimilate  it.  Perhaps  my  mental  pecu- 
liarities and  my  special  inaptitude  to  commit  words  to 
memory  would  have  rendered  most  education,  such  as  it 
was  when  I was  a boy,  ineffectual  for  much  good.  The 
main  defect  for  me  certainly  was  that  precise  verbal 
memory  was  the  test  of  all  knowledge.  No  doubt  in 
some  things,  such  as  languages,  precise  knowledge  of 
words  is  essential,  and  therefore  I refer  to  my  own  spe- 
cial defect  in  saying  this.” 

(26)  “ My  school-work  was  too  predominantly  clas- 
sical, and  nearly  every  thing  was  taught  on  authority .” 

(27)  “ Persistence  in  giving  me  no  holiday,  and  over- 
straining my  memory  when  I was  very  young.” 

(28)  “ My  principal  regret  is,  that  I was  unable  to 
pursue  the  study  of  mathematics.” 


188 


ENGLISH  MEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


(29)  “ Mathematics  were  not  pushed  far  enough ; 
natural  science  was  left  to  the  hoys  themselves.” 

(30)  “ My  boyhood  was  utterly  wasted,  and  the 
efforts  of  my  manhood  have  not  sufficed,  and  never  will 
suffice,  to  repair  the  loss.” 

(31)  “Omission  of  all  subjects  excepting  the  clas- 
sics, but  particularly  [faulty]  in  the  want  of  intellectual 
training.” 

(32)  [A  military  man.]  “ The  authority  of  a mili- 
tary education  is  prejudicial  to  the  development  of 
thought  and  education  in  matters  of  opinion.” 

DEMERITS  IN  EDUCATION  : WANT  OF  SYSTEM  AND  BAD 

TEACHING TEN  CASES. 

(1)  “ Want  of  system.” 

(2)  “ Want  of  system.” 

(3)  “ Want  of  system.” 

(4)  “ Want  of  system ; absence  of  necessary  con- 
trol.” 

(5)  “ Bad  early  masters  ; neglect  at  public  school.” 

(6)  “ Essentially  defective ; no  competition  nor  su- 
pervision.” 


EDUCATION. 


1S9 


(7)  “ The  very  mistaken  way  in  which  languages,  as 
it  now  seems  to  me,  especially  Latin  and  Greek,  were 
taught.” 

(8)  “ Too  much  for  memory  ; nothing  for  thought.” 

(9)  “ W ant  of  thoroughness  in  early  teaching.” 

(10)  “ Careless  and  superficial  reading.” 

DEMERITS  IN  EDUCATION  : UNCLASSED FOUR  CASES. 

(1)  “ Brought  up  in  an  idle  class,  and  never  realized 
the  necessity  of  labor  in  acquirement.” 

(2)  “ Too  much  cramming  for  examinations.  Too 
much  isolated,  being  the  youngest  son,  and  educated  at 
home.” 

(3)  “ Too  great  changes  in  system,  having  been  edu- 
cated at  five  universities  (three  of  which  were  Scotch, 
one  London,  and  one  in  Germany).” 

(4)  “ Being  brought  up  at  home  ; was  perhaps  too 
much  shut  out  from  the  company  of  other  boys.” 


SUMMARY. 

The  scientific  men  on  my  list  have  very  generally 
ascribed  high  merits  to  a varied  education.  They  say, 


190 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


as  we  have  just  seen  : “Not  tied  down  to  old  courses  of 
classics  and  mathematics.” — “ Sufficient  groundwork  in 
many  subjects  to  avoid  error.” — “A  well-balanced  edu- 
cation, including  chemistry,  botany,  logic,  and  political 
economy.” — “ Coming  in  contact  with  persons  of  every 
rank,  and  sitthig  in  the  same  form  [in  a Scotch  school] 
with  the  sons  of  tradesmen  and  ploughmen,  as  well  as 
gentlemen.”  In  contrast  to  this,  others,  who  speak  of 
the  faults  of  their  education,  say : “ No  mathematics, 
nor  modern  languages,  nor  any  habits  of  observation  or 
reasoning.” — “ Enormous  time  devoted  to  Latin  and 
Greek,  with  which  languages  I am  not  conversant.” — 
“ In  an  otherwise  well-balanced  education,  three  years 
were  spent  on  Latin  and  Greek  grammar’ — a blank  waste 
of  time.” — “ Neglect  of  many  subjects  for  the  attain- 
ment of  one  or  two  ; not  pushing  mathematics  to  a use- 
ful end.”  Evidence  such  as  this  fully  establishes  the 
advantage  of  a variety  of  study.  One  group  of  men 
speak  gratefully  because  they  had  it,  and  another  speak 
regretfully  because  they  had  it  not.  I find  none  who 
had  a reasonable  variety  who  disapproved  of  it,  none 
who  had  a purely  old-fashioned  education  who  were  satis- 
fied with  it.  The  scientific  men  who  came  from  the 
large  public  schools  usually  did  nothing  when  there ; 
they  could  not  assimilate  the  subjects  taught,  and  have 
abused  the  old  system  heartily.  There  are  several  seri- 
ous complaints  about  superficial  and  bad  teaching  which 
I need  not  quote  afresh.  Overteaching  is  thoroughly 


EDUCATION. 


191 


objected  to  ; thus,  in  speaking  of  merits  of  education,  I 
find  : “ Freedom  to  follow  my  own  inclinations,  and  to 
choose  my  own  subjects  of  study,  or  the  reverse.” — 
“ The  great  proportion  of  time  left  free  to  do  as  I liked, 
unwatched  and  uncontrolled.” — “ Unusual  degree  of  free- 
dom.” There  is  much  scattered  evidence  throughout  the 
replies  to  my  questions  generally,  in  addition  to  what  I 
have  extracted,  which  implies  that  this  feeling  is  a very 
common  one.  There  axe  many  touching  evidences  of 
the  strong  effect  of  home  encouragement  and  teaching ; 
of  this  I have  already  spoken,  and  need  not  dwell  upon 
afresh. 

In  corroboration  of  the  conclusions  stated  hi  p.  162, 
on  the  favorable  influence  of  the  Scotch  system  hi  de- 
veloping a taste  for  science,  I remark  that,  in  these  re- 
plies, a large  proportion  of  the  scientific  men  who  have 
mentioned  any  merits  in  their  education  were  educated 
in  Scotland. 

As  regards  the  subjects  specially  asked  for,  even  by 
biologists,  mathematics  take  a prominent  place.  Two 
of  my  correspondents  speak  strongly  of  the  advantages 
derived  from  logic,  and  the  weighty  judgment  of  the 
late  John  S.  Mill  powerfully  corroborates  their  opinions. 
Accuracy  of  delineation  is  also  spoken  of,  and,  owing  to 
the  extraordinary  prevalence  of  mechanical  aptitudes,  I 
believe  that  the  teaching  of  mechanical  drawing  and 
manipulation  would  be  greatly  prized. 

The  interpretation  that  I put  on  the  answers  as  a 


192 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


whole  is  as  follows  : To  teach  a few  congenial  and  useful 
things  very  thoroughly,  to  encourage  curiosity  concern- 
ing as  wide  a range  of  subjects  as  possible,  and  not  to 
overteach.  As  regards  the  precise  subjects  for  rigorous 
instruction,  the  following  seem  to  me  in  strict  accordance 
with  what  would  have  best  pleased  those  of  the  scientific 
men  who  have  sent  me  returns  : 1.  Mathematics  pushed 
as  far  as  the  capacity  of  the  learner  admits,  and  its  pro- 
cesses utilized  as  far  as  possible  for  interesting  ends  and 
practical  application.  2.  Logic  (on  the  grounds  already 
stated,  but  on  those  only).  3.  Observation,  theory,  and 
experiment,  in  at  least  one  branch  of  science ; some 
boys  taking  one  branch  and  some  another,  to  insure 
variety  of  interests  in  the  school.  4.  Accurate  drawing 
of  objects  connected  with  the  branch  of  science  pursued. 
5.  Mechanical  manipulation,  for  the  reasons  already 
given,  and  also  because  mechanical  skill  is  occasionally 
of  great  use  to  nearly  all  scientific  men  in  their  investi- 
gations. These  five  subjects  should  be  rigorously  taught. 
They  are  any  thing  but  an  excessive  programme,  and 
there  would  remain  plenty  of  time  for  that  variety  of 
work  which  is  so  highly  prized,  as — ready  access  to 
books ; much  reading  of  interesting  literature,  history, 
and  poetry  ; languages  learned,  probably  best  during  the 
vacations,  in  the  easiest  and  swiftest  manner,  with  the 
sole  object  of  enabling  the  learners  to  read  ordinary 
books  in  them.  This  seems  sufficient,  because  my  re- 
turns show  that  men  of  science  are  not  made  by  much 


EDUCATION. 


193 


teaching,  but  rather  by  awakening  their  interests,  encour- 
aging their  pursuits  when  at  home,  and  leaving  them  to 
teach  themselves  continuously  throughout  life.  Much 
teaching  fills  a youth  with  knowledge,  but  tends  prema- 
turely to  satiate  his  appetite  for  more.  I am  surprised 
at  the  mediocre  degrees  which  the  leading  scientific  men 
who  were  at  the  universities  have  usually  taken,  always 
excepting  the  mathematicians.  Being  original,  they  are 
naturally  less  receptive  ; they  prefer  to  fix  of  their  own 
accord  on  certain  subjects,  and  seem  averse  to  learn  what 
is  put  before  them  as  a task.  Their  independence  of 
spirit  and  coldness  of  disposition  are  not  conducive  to 
success  in  competition : they  doggedly  go  their  own 
way,  and  refuse  to  run  races. 


CONCLUSION. 

Science  has  hitherto  been  at  a disadvantage,  compared 
with  other  competing  pursuits,  in  enlisting  the  attention 
of  the  best  intellects  of  the  nation,  for  reasons  that  are 
partly  mherent  and  partly  artificial.  To  these  I will 
briefly  refer  in  conclusion,  with  especial  reference  to  the 
very  important  question  as  to  how  far  the  progress  of 
events  tends  to  counterbalance  or  remove  them. 

If  we  class  energy,  intellect,  and  the  like,  under  the 
general  name  of  ability,  it  follows  that,  other  circum- 
stances being  the  same,  those  able  men  who  have  vigor 
to  spare  for  extra-professional  pursuits,  will  be  mainly 


194 


ENGLISH  HEN  OF  SCIENCE. 


governed  in  the  choice  of  them  by  the  instinctive  tastes 
of  their  manhood.  The  majority  will  address  them- 
selves to  topics  nearly  connected  with  human  interests  ; 
a few  only  will  turn  to  science.  Tins  tendency  to  aban- 
don the  colder  attractions  of  science  for  those  of  politi- 
cal and  social  life,  must  always  be  powerfully  reenforced 
by  the  very  general  inclination  of  women  to  exert  their 
influence  in  the  latter  direction.  Again,  those  who  select 
some  branch  of  science  as  a profession,  must  do  so  in 
spite  of  the  fact  that  it  is  more  unremunerative  than  any 
other  pursuit.  A great  and  salutary  change  has  un- 
doubtedly come  over  the  feeling  of  the  nation  since  the 
time  when  the  present  leading  men  of  science  were  boys, 
for  education  was  at  that  time  conducted  in  the  interests 
of  the  clergy,  and  was  strongly  opposed  to  science.  It 
crushed  the  inquiring  spirit,  the  love  of  observation,  the 
pursuit  of  inductive  studies,  the  habit  of  independent 
thought,  and  it  protected  classics  and  mathematics  by 
giving  them  the  monopoly  of  all  prizes  for  intellectual 
work,  such  as  scholarships,  fellowships,  church  livings, 
canonries,  bishoprics,  and  the  rest.  This  gigantic  mo- 
nopoly is  yielding,  but  obstinately  and  slowly,  and  it  is 
unlikely  that  the  friends  of  science  will  be  able,  for 
many  years  to  come,  to  relax  their  efforts  in  educational 
reform.  As  regards  the  future  provision  for  successful 
followers  of  science,  it  is  to  be  hoped  that,  in  addition  to 
the  many  new  openings  in  industrial  pursuits,  the  grad- 
ual but  sure  development  of  sanitary  administration  and 


EDUCATION. 


195 


statistical  inquiry  may  in  time  afford  the  needed  profes- 
sion. These  and  adequately  paid  professorships  may,  as 
I sincerely  hope  they  will,  even  in  our  days,  give  rise 
to  the  establishment  of  a sort  of  scientific  priesthood 
throughout  the  kingdom,  whose  high  duties  would  have 
reference  to  the  health  and  well-being  of  the  nation  in 
its  broadest  sense,  and  whose  emoluments  and  social  po- 
sition would  be  made  commensurate  with  the  importance 
and  variety  of  their  functions. 


' 


APPENDIX. 


Mx  schedule  of  printed  questions,  together  with  the  ample 
spaces  left  for  replies,  filled,  I am  half  ashamed  to  acknowl- 
edge, seven  huge  quarto  pages.  It  would  be  a cumbrous  ad- 
dition to  a publication  like  the  present  to  reproduce  these  in 
the  same  form  in  which  they  were  framed  ; and  as  the  follow- 
ing extracts  (with  trifling  variations  rendered  necessary  by  the 
change  of  form)  cover  precisely  the  same  ground,  and  are 
sufficient  for  explanation,  I abstain  from  doing  so.1 

A circular  letter,  in  which  I explained  briefly  the  object  of 

1 I also  omit  the  description  of  a notation  I proposed  to  replace 
indefinite  words  such  as  “large,”  “considerable,”  because  I have 
made  no  use  of  it  in  this  volume.  It  is  a modification  of  the  class 
notation  used  by  me  in  my  “ Hereditary  Genius,”  and  was  alluded 
to  aud  illustrated  in  my  lecture  before  the  Royal  Institution,  1874.  I 
have  by  no  means  abandoned  its  advocacy,  but  have  learned  the 
necessity  of  explaining  and  exemplifying  it  in  considerable  detail 
before  its  merits  and  convenience  are  likely  to  become  as  generally 
recognized  as  I believe  they  deserve  to  be. 


198 


APPENDIX. 


the  inquiry,  accompanied  the  schedule,  and  I appended  to  it  a 
reprint  of  a short  article  which  I had  written  in  the  Fort- 
nightly Review  early  in  1873,  partly  to  show  the  interest  with 
which  I had  pursued  cognate  inquiries,  and  partly  as  a guar- 
antee of  the  tone  and  spirit  in  which  the  inserted  communi- 
cations would  be  treated.  Also  I presumed,  and,  as  it  has 
proved,  not  without  reason,  that  being  more  or  less  person- 
ally acquainted  with  a large  majority  of  the  scientific  men  on 
my  list,  they  would  be  inclined  to  put  greater  faith  in  my  dis- 
cretion than  if  I had  been  a stranger.  Subject  to  these  pre- 
paratory explanations,  the  following  are  the  questions  that  I 
circulated : 

INQUIRY  INTO  THE  ANTECEDENTS  OF  SCIENTIFIC  MEN. 

Please  return  this  schedule  at  your  earliest  convenience, 
with  answers  to  as  many  of  the  questions  as  you  consider  to 
be  unobjectionable,  and  send  on  a separate  paper  any  further 
information  that  you  may  think  germane  to  the  inquiry.  En- 
tries marked  “ Private  ” will  be  dealt  with  in  strict  confidence  ; 
they  will  be  used  only  as  data  for  general  statistical  conclu- 
sions. 

Note. — “Whenever  you  consider  the  grade  of  the  quality 
about  which  a question  is  asked  to  fall  near  mediocrity,  do 
not  male  any  entry  at  all. 

Christian  names  of  yourself,  your  father,  and  your  mother, 
also  her  maiden  name?  Designation  and  principal  titles  of 


APPENDIX. 


199 


yourself,  your  father,  and  the  father  of  your  mother  1 Your 
father  and  mother,  are  they  respectively  English,  Welsh, 
Scotch,  Irish,  Jewish,  or  foreign?  If  foreign,  of  w'hat  coun- 
try ? Wholly  or  in  what  degree  ? Was  either  your  father  or 
your  mother  descended  from  persons  persecuted  for  political 
or  religious  opinions,  or  from  political  or  religious  refugees  ? 
If  so,  state  the  precise  relationship.  Mention  whether  their 
political  or  religions  opinions  became  traditional  in  the  family. 
Occupation  of  yourself,  your  father,  and  the  father  of  your 
mother  ? Specify  any  interests  that  have  been  very  actively 
pursued  by  them,  in  addition  to  their  regular  occupation  or 
profession. 

All  the  questions  in  the  following  paragraph  are  asked 
concerning  yourself,  your  father,  and  your  mother  respec- 
tively : 

Date  of  the  birth  of?  Place  of  the  birth  of  (if  you  do  not 
remember  that  of  either  your  father  or  mother,  state  where 
he  or  she  resided  in  early  life)  ? Mention  if  it  was  in  a large 
or  small  town,  a suburb,  a village,  or  a house  in  the  country. 
To  what  religious  bodies  have  you  (self,  father,  and  mother) 
respectively  belonged  ? To  what  political  parties  ? Health 
at  the  various  periods  of  life  ? In  early  adult  life,  what  was 
your  height  (to  be  estimated,  where  not  accurately  remem- 
bered) ? Was  there  any  thing  distinctive  in  the  figure,  etc. 
(spare,  symmetrical,  muscular,  etc.)?  Color  of  hair?  Com- 
plexion (if  remarkably  fair,  dark,  ruddy,  pale,  sallow,  etc.)? 
Temperament,  if  distinctly  nervous,  sanguine,  bilious,  or  lym- 


200 


APPENDIX. 


phatic?  Measurement  round  inside  of  rim  of  your  hat? 
Energy  of  body,  if  remarkable ; as  shown  by  power  of  activ- 
ity, power  of  enduring  fatigue,  restlessness,  requiring  but  lit- 
tle sleep  (state  bow  much),  early  rising,  adventures,  travel, 
mountaineering,  etc.  (give  a few  facts)?  Energy  of  mind, 
if  remarkable ; as  shown  by  power  of  accomplishing  a large 
amount  of  brain-work,  by  the  vigorous  pursuit  of  interests, 
whatever  they  may  be,  etc.  (give  a few  facts)  ? Eetentive- 
ness  of  memory  (give  facts)?  Studiousness  of  disposition  and 
mental  receptivity,  as  shown  by  large  acquirements  ? Inde- 
pendence of  judgment  in  social,  political,  or  religious  matters 
(give  illustrations)  ? Originality  or  eccentricity  of  character 
(give  illustrations)  ? Special  talents,  as  for  mechanism,  prac- 
tical business  habits,  music,  mathematics,  etc.?  Strongly- 
marked  mental  peculiarities,  bearing  on  scientific  success,  and 
not  specified  above : the  following  list  may  serve  to  suggest — 
impulsiveness,  steadiness,  strong  feelings  and  partisanship, 
social  affections,  religious  bias  of  thought,  love  of  the  new 
and  marvelous,  curiosity  about  facts,  love  of  pursuit,  con- 
structiveness of  imagination,  foresight,  public  spirit,  disinter- 
estedness. • 

Are  any  peculiarities  either  very  uniformly  developed,  or 
also  very  irregularly  developed  among  yourself,  your  brothers 
and  sisters,  or  in  the  family  of  your  father,  or  in  that  of  your 
mother  ? 

State  the  number  of  males  and  that  of  the  females  in  each 
of  the  following  degrees  of  relationship  who  have  attained 


APPENDIX. 


201 


thirty  years  of  age,  or  thereabouts  : Grandparents,  both  sides ; 
parents,  uncles  and  aunts,  both  sides ; brothers  and  sisters ; 
first-cousins  of  all  four  descriptions ; nephews  and  nieces.  In 
each  of  these  several  degrees  of  relationship,  state  the  names 
of  those  who  have  occupied  prominent  positions  or  written 
well-known  works,  or  who  from  any  other  cause  may  be  con- 
sidered as  public  characters.  State  their  principal  achieve- 
ments, mention  the  best  biographies,  and  the  most  useful 
among  the  scattered  biographical  notices  that  may  exist  of 
them ; terms  of  award  of  medals,  etc.  Also,  in  each  of  the 
above  degrees  of  relationship,  give  the  number  (with  initials 
or  names)  of  those  whose  ability  in  any  respect  was  consider- 
able, but  who  did  not  become  public  characters  (fuller  infor- 
mation to  be  sent  on  a separate  paper).  Similar  information 
is  acceptable  concerning  other  more  remote  degrees  of  rela- 
tionship. Brief  notes  concerning  hereditary  peculiarities  of 
any  kind  in  your  family,  bodily  or  mental,  would  be  accept- 
able. How  many  brothers  and  sisters  had  you  older  than 
yourself,  and  how  many  younger  ? 

How  long  were  you  at  small  schools,  large  schools,  univer- 
sities, and  at  what  ages  ? Name  or  place  of  school  or  univer- 
sity, and  chief  subjects  taught  there.  Mention  any  honors 
of  importance  gained  by  you  at  schools  or  universities.  To 
what  extent  were  you  educated  elsewhere,  taught  at  home, 
or  self-taught?  Was  your  education  especially  conducive  to, 
or  restrictive  of,  habits  of  observation?  Was  it  eminently 
conducive  to  health  or  the  reverse  ? What  do  you  consider 


202 


APPENDIX. 


to  have  been  peculiar  merits  in  it?  'What  were  the  chief 
omissions  in  it,  and  what  faults  of  commission  can  you  indi- 
cate? Has  the  religion  taught  iu  your  youth  had  any  deter- 
rent effect  on  the  freedom  of  your  researches  ? Can  you  trace 
the  origin  of  your  interest  in  science  in  general  and  in  your 
particular  branch  of  it  ? How  far  do  your  scientific  tastes 
appear  to  have  been  innate?  Were  they  largely  determined 
by  events  occurring  after  you  reached  manhood,  and  by  what 
events  ? 

Have  you  been  married?  Year  in  which  you  were  mar- 
ried? Maiden  name  of  your  wife?  Number  of  living  sons 
and  daughters  (of  all  ages)  ? State  any  facts  of  peculiar  in- 
terest in  your  wife’s  family. 


IXDEX. 


Ability  of  different  races,  14 ; 
ranks,  IV  ; distribution  of,  in 
families,  54. 

Adams,  6. 

Adhesiveness,  145. 

Ages  of  scientific  men,  V ; of 
their  parents,  26. 

Alderson,  31,  51. 

Amusements,  172. 

Antecedents,  1. 

Aristotle,  27. 

Axioms,  164. 

Barclay,  49. 

Bateman,  42. 

Bell  scholarship,  17. 

Bentham,  6,  31,  32,  49. 

Bidder,  40. 

Birthplaces  of  scientific  men,  14. 
Brodrick,  50,  52. 

Bunsen,  6. 

Business  habits,  79. 

Cambridge  honor  lists,  50,  52, 
192. 

Carpenter,  33. 

Catholics,  95. 

Charity,  171. 

Clark,  Miss,  41. 

Clergymen,  17,  156,  194. 

10 


Clubs,  4. 

Colburn,  Zerah,  40. 

Collections,  tastes  for,  146. 

Color  of  hair  of  parents,  21. 

Compton,  49. 

Councils  of  scientific  societies, 
18. 

Creeds,  diversity  of,  93,  95  ; effect 
of,  on  research,  101. 

Daguerre,  6. 

Dalton,  93. 

Darwin,  31,  34,  48,  50. 

Data,  8. 

Dawson  Turner,  31,  37. 

Definition  of  “Man  of  Science,” 

2. 

De  la  Rue,  41. 

De  Morgan,  174. 

Descent  ( see  race  and  birthplace, 

12). 

Discovery,  6. 

Divines  ( see  clergymen,  creeds, 
and  religious  bias). 

Dreams,  175. 

Duncan,  27. 

Education,  176;  merits  in,  gen- 
erally praised,  178;  variety  of 
subjects,  181  ; a little  science 


204 


INDEX. 


at  school,  182 ; simple  things 
well  taught,  182 ; liberty  and 
leisure,  183 ; home  teaching 
and  encouragement,  183  ( see 
also  154,  162,  168);  merits 
and  demerits  balanced,  184 ; 
demerits,  viz.,  narrow  educa- 
tion, 184 ; want  of  system 
and  bad  teaching,  188 ; bad, 
unclassed,  189;  summary,  189  ; 
interpretation  of  educational 
needs,  191 ; educational  mo- 
nopolies, 167,  194. 

Encouragement  at  home,  154  (see 
also  148,  154,  194);  of  friends, 
158  ; of  tutors,  161. 

Energy,  29,  56 ; above  average, 
59  ; below  average,  73  ; wasted 
on  trifles,  172. 

Failures,  173. 

Family  characteristics,  52. 

Faraday,  93. 

Features  inherited,  study  of,  31. 

Fellowship,  of  Royal  Society,  3 ; 
medical,  170;  traveling,  164. 

Female  influence,  155,  158,  194; 
hereditarily,  55. 

Fertility,  27  ( see  77). 

Figure  of  parents,  21. 

Figures  and  tabulation,  instinct 
for,  146. 

Friends,  influence  of,  158. 

Galton,  D.,  36,  109;  F.,  36,  148. 

Genius,  175. 

Gilbert,  47. 

Grove,  3. 

Hair,  color  of,  22. 

Harcourt,  38,  49. 

Head,  size  of,  74. 

Health,  28,  75;  of  parents,  76. 

Heath,  18. 

Height  of  parents,  22 ; of  scien- 
tific men,  77. 

Helena,  1 1. 

Heraldry,  148. 


Herbert,  47 ; Spencer  ( see  Pref- 
ace). 

Heredity,  29. 

Hermia,  11. 

Hill,  39. 

Hinton,  47. 

Holland,  Sir  H.,  48,  76. 

Home  encouragement  (see  En- 
couragement). 

Hooker,  37. 

Humphrey,  51. 

Idiots,  82,  146,  174;  among  el- 
der sons,  27. 

Impulsiveness,  79. 

Independence  of  character,  92, 
173  ; of  parents,  92. 

Innate  tastes,  140  ; special,  144 ; 
not  strongly  hereditary,  147. 

Jevons,  44. 

Kant,  6. 

Kirchhoff,  6. 

Laplace,  6. 

Latrobe,  41,  49. 

Lee,  General,  42. 

Leverrier,  6. 

List  of  scientific  men,  3,  5. 

Logic,  191. 

Love,  146. 

Main,  51. 

Map  of  birthplaces,  15. 

Marriage,  best  age  for,  27. 
Maskelvne,  49. 

Mechanical  aptitudes,  94 ; draw- 
ing, 191 ; manipulation,  192. 
Mechanicians,  birthplace  of,  14. 
Medical  fellowships,  167. 

Memory,  81;  good  verbal,  82; 
facts  and  figures,  84 ; form, 
86 ; good,  but  no  particulars, 
88 ; bad,  91. 

Miller,  Hugh,  101. 

Mill,  J.  S.,  105,  111,  191. 

Milnes,  49. 


I 27 BEX. 


205 


Ministers  (see  clergymen). 

Mitchell,  Dr.  A.,  27. 

Moberly,  52. 

Moravians,  49,  93,  95. 

National  activity,  170. 

Natural  ability,  170  (see  also  13). 

Natural  groups,  2. 

Nature  and  nurture,  9. 

Nonconformists,  95. 

Nurture,  9. 

Occupation  of  parents,  16. 

Opie,  32. 

Origin  of  taste  for  science,  108  ; 
extracts  at  length,  112  ; analy- 
sis of  them,  viz. : strongly  in- 
nate, 140 ; not  innate,  143  ; 
tastes  bearing  on  science,  146  ; 
tastes  not  very  hereditary,  147 ; 
fortunate  accidents,  148  ; in- 
direct motives,  150;  profes- 
sional, 151 ; encouragement  at 
home,  154;  by  friends,  158,  by 
tutors,  161;  travel,  164;  un- 
classed, 166. 

Palgrave,  38,  52. 

Paradoxes,  book  of,  174. 

Parents  of  scientific  men,  their 
occupation,  16  ; physical  pecu- 
liarities, 20;  health  of,  77 ; in- 
dependence of  character,  92; 
relative  influence  of  paternal 
and  maternal  lines,  54,  148, 
155. 

Parker,  37. 

Parkes,  48. 

Pedigrees,  31. 

Perseverance,  78. 

Phillips,  76. 

Physical  peculiarities  of  parents, 

20. 

Photography,  early,  5,  48. 

Photographic  studies  of  features. 
30. 

Playfair,  42,  49. 

Plum-pudding,  159. 


Politics,  155. 

Population,  ratio  of  scientific 
men  to,  7. 

Portraits,  30. 

Powell,  B.,  18. 

Practical  business  habits,  79. 
Priestley,  6,  34. 

Primogeniture,  etc.,  25. 

Prisoners,  58. 

Professions,  influence  of,  144, 
151. 

Purity  of  type,  13,  24,  31. 

Quakers,  49,  93,  96. 

Qualities,  56. 

Questions,  see  Appendix. 

Race,  12  ; ability  of  different,  13. 
Railway  statistics,  109. 

Rank  of  scientific  men,  16  ; as 
regards  ability,  17. 

Relatives,  number  of,  48. 
Religious  bias,  95  ; sects,  93,  95  ; 
creed,  effect  of,  on  research, 
101. 

Replies,  8 ; are  100  in  number,  8. 
Residuum,  the,  17;  unclassed,  of 
motives,  166. 

Rome,  172. 

Roscoe,  31,  44. 

Saxdemanians,  93. 

Sanitary  administration,  168,  194. 
Scientific  men,  list  of,  3,  5 ; ratio 
to  population,  7. 

School  productiveness  of  eminent 
men,  50. 

Scotch  system  of  education,  161, 
169,  191. 

Scott,  51. 

Sexual  selection,  24. 

Shakespeare,  10. 

Smith,  W.,  49;  Archibald,  118. 
Social  duties,  171. 

Societies,  scientific  and  clergy- 
men,  18. 

Somerville,  Mrs.,  81. 


206 


INDEX. 


Sons,  elder  and  younger,  26. 
Specialty  of  taste,  145. 

Statistics,  111 ; of  heredity,  48. 
Sterility,  28. 

Stokes,  6. 

Strachey,  45. 

Tabulation,  instinct  for,  148. 
Taste  for  science,  innate,  140; 
not  innate,  143  (see  origin  of 
taste). 

Taylors  of  Ongar,  31,  45,  50. 
Temperaments  of  parents,  20. 
Travel,  164. 

Truthfulness,  106,  111. 

Tutors,  influence  of,  158. 

Turner  ( see  Dawson  Turner,  37). 
Twins,  10. 


Unclassed  residuum  of  influ- 
ences, 166. 

Unitarians,  93,  95. 

University  education,  176,  193. 
Urban  distribution,  14  ; popula- 
tion, 29. 

Yanitt,  97. 

Wallace,  6. 

Watt,  34. 

Wedgwood,  6,  35,  47-49. 
Wesleyans,  95. 

Wife,  influence  of,  158  (see  also 
155,  193). 

WTlberforce,  Bishop,  18. 

Will,  the,  168. 

Woodhouse,  32,  52. 


THE  END. 


International  Scientific  Series. 


D.  Appleton  & Co.  have  the  pleasure  of  announcing  that  they  have  made  arrange- 
ments for  publishing,  and  have  recently  commenced  the  issue  of,  a Series  of  Popular 
Monographs,  or  small  works,  under  the  above  title,  which  will  embody  the  results  of 
recent  inquiry  in  the  most  interesting  departments  of  advancing  science. 

The  character  and  scope  of  this  series  will  be  best  indicated  by  a reference  to  the 
names  and  subjects  included  in  the  subjoined  list,  from  which  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
cooperation  of  the  most  distinguished  professors  in  England,  Germany,  France,  and  the 
United  States,  has  been  secured,  and  negotiations  are  pending  for  contributions  from 
other  eminent  scientific  writers. 

The  works  will  be  issued  in  New  York,  London,  Paris,  Leipsic,  Milan,  and  St. 
Petersburg. 

The  International  Scientific  Series  is  entirely  an  American  project,  and  was 
originated  and  organized  by  Dr.  E.  L.  Youmans,  who  spent  the  greater  part  of  a year 
in  Europe,  arranging  with  authors  and  publishers.  The  forthcoming  volumes  are  as 
follows : 


Prof.  Lommel  (University  of  Erlangen), 
Optics.  (In  press.) 

Rev.  M.  J.  Berkeley,  M.  A.,  F.  L.  S., 
and  M.  Cooke,  M.  A.,  LL.  D., 
Fungi;  their  Nature,  Influences , 
and  Uses.  (In  press.) 

Prof.  W.  Kingdon  Clifford,  M.  A.,  The 
First  Principles  of  the  Exact  Sciences 
explained  to  the  non-mathematical. 

Prof.  T.  H.  Huxley,  LL.  D.,  F.  R.  S., 
Bodily  Motion  and  Consciousness. 

Dr.  W.  B.  Carpenter,  LL.  D.,  F.  R.  S., 
The  Physical  Geography  of  the  Sea. 

Prof.  William Odlong,  F.  K.  S.,  The  Old 
Chemistry  viewed  from  the  New 
Standpoint. 

W.  Lauder  Lindsay,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  S.  E., 
Mind  in  the  Lower  A nimals. 

Sir  John  Lubbock,  Bart.,  F.  R.  S.,  The 
A ntiquity  of  Alan. 

Prof.  W.  T.  Thiselton  Dyer,  B.  A., 
B.  Sc.,  Form  ajid  Habit  in  Flower- 
ing Plants. 

Mr.  J.  N.  Lockyer,  F.  R.  S.,  Spectrum 
A naly sis. 

Prof.  Michael  Foster,  M.  D.,  Proto- 
plasm and  the  Cell  Theory. 

Prof.  W.  Stanley  Jevons,  Aloney : and 
the  Mechanism  of  Exchange. 

PI.  Charlton  Bastian,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  S., 
The  Brain  as  an  Organ  of  Mind. 

Prof.  A.  C.  Ramsay,  LL.  D.,  F.  R.  S., 
Earth  Sculpture : Hills , Valleys , 
About itains , Plains , Rivers , Lakes  ; 
how  they  were  produced,  and  how 
they  have  beeti  destroyed. 

Prof.  Rudolph  Virchow  (Berlin  Univer- 
sity), Alorbid  Physiological  A ction. 

Prof.  Claude  Bernard,  Physical  and 
Aletaphysical  Phenomena  of  Life. 

Prof.  H.  Sainte-Claire  Deville,  An 
Introduction  to  General  Chemistry. 

Prof.  Wurtz,  Atoms  and  the  Atomic 
Theory. 

Prof.  De  Quatrefages,  The  Negro 
Races. 


Prof.  Lacaze-Duthiers,  Zoology  since 
Cuvier. 

Prof.  Berthelot,  Chemical  Synthesis. 

Prof.  J.  Rosenthal,  General  Physiology 
of  Muscles  and  Nerves. 

Prof.  James  D.  Dana,  M.  A.,  LL.  D.,  On 
Cephalization  ; or,  Head- Characters 
iti  the  Gradation  and  Progress  of 
Life. 

Prof  S.  W.  Johnson,  M.  A.,  On  the  Nu- 
trition  of  Plants. 

Prof.  Austin  Flint,  Jr.,  M.  D.,  The 
Nervous  System  and  its  Relation  to 
the  Bodily  Functions. 

Prof.  W.  D.  Whitney,  Modern  Linguis- 
tic Science. 

Prof.  C.  A.  Young,  Ph.  D.  (of  Dartmouth 
College),  The  Sun. 

Prof.  Bernstein  (University  of  Halle), 
Physiology  of  the  Senses. 

Prof.  Ferdinand  Cohn  (Breslau  Univer- 
sity), Thallophytes  {Algcze,  Lichens, 
Fungi). 

Prof.  Hermann  (University  of  Zurich), 
Respiration. 

Prof.  Leuckart  (University  of  Leipsic), 
Outlines  of  Animal  Organization. 

Prof.  Liebreich  (University  of  Berlin), 
Outlines  of  Toxicology. 

Prof.  Kundt  (University  of  Strasburg), 
On  Sound. 

Prof.  Rees  (University  of  Erlangen),  On 
Parasitic  Plants. 

Prof.  Steinthal  (University  of  Berlin), 
Outlines  of  the  Science  of  Language. 

E.  Alglave  (Professor  of  Constitutional 
and  Administrative  Law  at  Douai,  and 
of  Political  Economy  at  Lille),  The 
Primitive  Elements  of  Political  Con- 
stitutions. 

P.  Lorain  (Professor  of  Medicine,  Paris), 
Modern  Epidemics. 

Prof.  Schtjtzenberger  (Director  of  the 
Chemical  Laboratory  at  the  Sorbonne)# 
On  Fermentations. 

Mons.  Debray,  Precious  Metals. 


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Tyndall’s  Forms  of  Water. 

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Opinions  of  the  Press  on  the  “ International  Scientific  Series.” 


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By  Dr.  EDWARD  SMITH. 

I vol. , i2mo.  Cloth.  Illustrated Price,  $1.75. 

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rious forms  of  alcohol,  although  perhaps  not  strictly  of  a novel  character,  are  highly  in- 
structive, and  form  an  interesting  portion  of  the  volume.” — N.  Y.  Tribune . 


IV. 

Body  and  Mind. 

THE  THEORIES  OF  THEIR  RELATION. 
By  ALEXANDER  BAIN,  LL.  D. 

1 vol.,  l2mo.  Cloth Price,  $1.50. 

Professor  Bain  is  the  author  of  two  well-known  standard  works  upon  the  Science 
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one  of  the  highest  living  authorities  in  the  school  which  holds  that  there  can  be  no  sound 
or  valid  psychology  unless  the  mind  and  the  body  are  studied,  as  they  exist,  together. 

“ It  contains  a forcible  statement  of  the  connection  between  mind  and  body,  study- 
ing their  subtile  interworkings  by  the  light  of  the  most  recent  physiological  investiga- 
tions. The  summary  in  Chapter  V.,  of  the  investigations  of  Dr.  Lionel  Beale  of  the 
embodiment  of  the  intellectual  functions  in  the  cerebral  system,  will  be  found  the 
freshest  and  most  interesting  part  of  his  book.  Prof.  Bain’s  own  theory  of  the  ccnnec- 
tion  between  the  mental  and  the  bodily  part  in  man  is  stated  by  himself  to  be  as  follows : 
There  is  ‘ one  substance,  with  two  sets  of  properties,  two  sides,  the  physical  and  the 
mental — a double-faced  unity.'  While,  in  the  strongest  manner,  asserting  the  union 
of  mind  with  brain,  he  yet  denies  ‘the  association  of  union  in  place'  but  asserts  the 
union  of  close  succession  in  time,’  holding  that  ‘the  same  being  is,  by  alternate  fits,  un- 
der extended  and  under  unextended  consciousness.”  ’ — Christiaii  Register. 

D.  APPLETON  & CO.,  Publishers,  549  & 551  Broadway,  N.  Y. 


Opinions  of  the  Press  on  the  “ International  Scientific  Series." 


V. 

The  Study  of  Sociology. 

By  HERBERT  SPENCER. 

I vol.,  i2mo.  Cloth Price,  $1.50. 

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and  departments.  There  is  a fascination  in  his  array  of  facts,  incidents,  and  opinions, 
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upon  sociology,  is  valuable  as  lucidly  showing  what  those  essential  characteristics  are 
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lative cast.  It  will  require  thought,  but  it  is  well  worth  thinking  about.” — Albany 
Evening  Journal. 


VI. 

The  New  Chemistry. 

By  JOSIAH  P.  COOKE,  Jr., 

Erving  Professor  of  Chemistry  and  Mineralogy  in  Harvard  University. 

1 vol.,  i2mo.  Cloth Price,  $2.00. 

u The  book  of  Prof.  Cooke  is  a model  of  the  modem  popular  science  work.  It  has 
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a difficult  subject  has  not  appeared  in  a long  time.  It  not  only  well  sustains  the  char- 
acter of  the  volumes  with  which  it  is  associated,  but  its  reproduction  in  European  coun- 
tries will  be  an  honor  to  American  science.” — New  York  Tribune. 

“All  the  chemists  in  the  country  will  enjoy  its  perusal,  and  many  will  seize  upon  it 
as  a thing  longed  for.  For,  to  those  advanced  students  who  have  kept  well  abreast  of 
the  chemical  tide,  it  offers  a calm  philosophy.  To  those  others,  youngest  of  the  class, 
who  have  emerged  from  the  schools  since  new  methods  have  prevailed,  it  presents  a 
generalization,  drawing  to  its  use  all  the  data,  the  relations  of  which  the  newly-fledged 
fact-seeker  may  but  dimly  perceive  without  its  aid.  ...  To  the  old  chemists.  Prof. 
Cooke’s  treatise  is  like  a message  from  beyond  the  mountain.  They  have  heard  of 
changes  in  the  science;  the  clash  of  the  battle  of  old  and  new  theories  has  stirred  them 
from  "afar.  The  tidings,  too,  had  come  that  the  old  had  given  way ; and  little  more  than 
this  they  knew.  . . . Prof.  Cooke’s  4 New  Chemistry’  must  do  wide  service  in  bringing 
to  close  sight  the  little  known  and  the  longed  for.  . . . As  a philosophy  it  is  elemen- 
tary, but,  as  a book  of  science,  ordinary  readers  will  find  it  sufficiently  advanced.”— 
Utica  Morning  Herald. 

D.  APPLETON  & CO.,  Publishers,  549  & 551  Broadway,  N.  Y. 


Opinions  of  the  Press  on  the  “International  Scientific  Series: 


VII. 

The  Conservation  of  Energy. 

By  BALFOUR  STEWART,  LL.  D.,  F.  R.  S. 

With  an  Appendix  treating  of  the  Vital  and  Mental  Applications  of  the  Doctrine. 

I vol.,  i2mo.  Cloth.  Price,  $1.50. 

“ The  author  has  succeeded  in  presenting  the  facts  in  a clear  and  satisfactory  manner, 
using  simple  language  and  copious  illustration  in  the  presentation  of  facts  and  prin- 
ciples, confining  himself,  however,  to  the  physical  aspect  of  the  subject.  In  the  Ap- 
pendix the  operation  of  the  principles  in  the  spheres  of  life  and  mind  is  supplied  by 
the  essays  of  Professors  Le  Conte  and  Bain.” — Ohio  Farmer: 

“ Prof.  Stewart  is  one  of  the  best  known  teachers  in  Owens  College  in  Manchester. 
“The  volume  of  The  International  Scientific  Series  now  before  us  is  an  ex- 
cellent illustration  of  the  true  method  of  teaching,  and  will  well  compare  with  Prof. 
Tyndall’s  charming  little  book  in  the  same  series  on  ‘ Forms  of  Water,”  with  illustra- 
tions enough  to  make  clear,  but  not  to  conceal1  his  thoughts,  in  a style  simple  and 
brief.” — Christian  Register , Boston. 

“ The  writer  has  wonderful  ability  to  compress  much  information  into  a few  words. 
It  is  a rich  treat  to  read  such  a book  as  this,  when  there  is  so  much  beauty  and  force 
combined  with  such  simplicity. — Eastern  Press. 


VIII. 

Animal  Locomotion; 

Or,  WALKING,  SWIMMING,  AND  FLYING. 

With  a Dissertation  on  Aeronautics. 

By  J.  BELL  PETTIGREW,  M.  D.,  F.  R.  S.,  F.  R.  S.  E., 

F.  R.C.  P.E. 


I vol.,  I2mo Price,  $1.75. 

“This  work  is  more  than  a contribution  to  the  stock  of  entertaining  knowledge, 
though,  if  it  only  pleased,  that  would  be  sufficient  excuse  for  its  publication.  But  Dr. 
Pettigrew  has  given  his  time  to  these  investigations  with  the  ultimate  purpose  of  solv- 
ing the  difficult  problem  of  Aeronautics.  To  this  he  devotes  the  last  fifty  pages  of  his 
book.  Dr.  Pettigrew  is  confident  that  man  will  yet  conquer  the  domain  of  the  air.” — 
N.  V.  Journal  of  Commerce. 

_ “Most  persons  claim  to  know  how  to  walk,  but  few  could  explain  the  mechanical 
principles  involved  in  this  most  ordinary  transaction,  and  will  be  surprised  that  the 
movements  of  bipeds  and  quadrupeds,  the  darting  and  rushing  motion  of  fish,  and  the 
erratic  flight  of  the  denizens  of  the  air,  are  not  only  anologous,  but  can  be  reduced  to 
similar  formula.  The  work  is  profusely  illustrated,  and,  without  reference  to  the  theory 
it  is  designed  to  expound,  will  be  regarded  as  a valuable  addition  to  natural  history.” 
— Omaha  Republic. 

D.  APPLETON  & CO.,  Publishers,  549  & 551  Broadway,  N.  Y. 


Opinions  of  the  Press  on  the  “ International  Scientific  Series." 


IX. 

Responsibility  in  Mental  Disease. 

By  HENRY  MA.UDSLEY,  M.  D., 

Fellow  of  the  Royal  College  of  Physicians ; Professor  of  Medical  Jurisprudence 
in  University  College,  London. 

I vol.,  i2mo.  Cloth.  . . Price,  $1.50. 

“ Having  lectured  in  a medical  college  on  Mental  Disease,  this  book  has  been  a 
feast  to  us.  It  handles  a great  subject  in  a masterly  manner,  and,  in  our  judgment,  the 
positions  taken  by  the  author  are  correct  and  well  sustained/’ — Pastor  and  People. 

“The  author  is  at  home  in  his  subject,  and  presents  his  views  in  an  almost  singu- 
larly clear  and  satisfactory  manner.  . . . The  volume  is  a valuable  contribution  to  one 
of  the  most  difficult,  and  at  the  same  time  one  of  the  most  important  subjects  of  inves- 
tigation at  the  present  day.” — N.  V.  ObseT'ver. 

“ It  is  a work  profound  and  searching,  and  abounds  in  wisdom.” — Pittsburg  Com- 
mercial. 

“ Handles  the  important  topic  with  masterly  power,  and  its  suggestions  are  prac- 
tical and  of  great  value/’ — Providence  Press. 

X. 

The  Science  of  Law. 

By  SHELDON  AMOS,  M.  A., 

Professor  of  Jurisprudence  in  University  College,  London;  author  of  “A  Systematic 
View  of  the  Science  of  Jurisprudence,”  “ An  English  Code,  its  Difficulties 
and  the  Modes  of  overcoming  them,”  etc.,  etc. 

I vol.,  i2mo.  Cloth Price,  $1.75. 

“The  valuable  series  of  * International  Scientific*  works,  prepared  by  eminent  spe- 
cialists, with  the  intention  of  popularising  information  in  their  several  branches  of 
knowledge,  has  received  a good  accession  in  this  compact  and  thoughtful  volume.  It 
is  a difficult  task  to  give  the  outlines  of  a complete  theory  of  law  in  a portable  volume, 
which  he  who  runs  may  read,  and  probably  Professor  Amos  himself  would  be  the  last 
to  claim  that  he  has  perfectly  succeeded  in  doing  this.  But  he  has  certainly  done  much 
to  clear  the  science  of  law  from  the  technical  obscurities  which  darken  it  to  minds  which 
have  had  no  legal  training,  and  to  make  clear  to  his  ‘ lay  * readers  in  how  true  and  high  a 
sense  it  can  assert  its  right  to  be  considered  a science,  and  not  a mere  practice.” — The 
Christian  Register. 

“The  works  of  Bentham  and  Austin  are  abstruse  and  philosophical,  and  Maine’s 
require  hard  study  and  a certain  amount  of  special  training.  The  writers  also  pursue 
different  lines  of  investigation,  and  can  only  be  regarded  as  comprehensive  in  the  de- 
partments they  confined  themselves  to.  It  was  left  to  Amos  to  gather  up  the  result 
and  present  the  science  in  its  fullness.  The  unquestionable  merits  of  this,  his  last  book, 
are,  that  it  contains  a complete  treatment  of  a subject  which  has  hitherto  been  handled 
by  specialists,  and  it  opens  up  that  subject  to  every  inquiring  mind.  ...  To  do  justice 
to  ‘ The  Science  of  Law  ’ would  require  a longer  review  than  we  have  space  for.  We 
have  read  no  more  interesting  and  instructive  book  for  some  time.  Its  themes  concern 
every  one  who  renders  obedience  to  laws,  and  who  would  have  those  laws  the  best 
possible.  The  tide  of  legal  reform  which  set  in  fifty  years  ago  has  to  sweep  yet  higher 
if  the  flaws  in  our  jurisprudence  are  to  be  removed.  The  process  of  change  cannot  be 
better  guided  than  by  a well-informed  public  mind,  and  Prof.  Amos  has  done  great 
service  in  materially  helping  to  promote  this  end.” — Buffalo  Courier. 

D.  APPLETON  & CO.,  Publishers,  549  & 551  Broadway,  N.  Y. 


Opinions  of  the  Press  on  the  “ International  Scientific  Series. 


XI. 

Animal  Mechanism, 

A Treatise  on  Terrestrial  and  Aerial  Locomotion. 

By  E.  J.  MAREY, 

Professor  at  the  College  of  France,  and  Member  of  the  Academy  of  Medicine. 

With  n 7 Illustrations,  drawn  and  engraved  under  the  direction  of  the  author, 
i vol.,  i2mo.  Cloth.  ....  Price,  $1.75 

“We  hope  that,  in  the  short  glance  which  we  have  taken  of  some  of  the  most  im- 
portant points  discussed  in  the  work  before  us,  we  have  succeeded  in  interesting  our 
readers  sufficiently  in  its  contents  to  make  them  curious  to  learn  more  of  its  subject- 
matter.  We  cordially  recommend  it  to  their  attention. 

“ The  author  of  the  present  work,  it  is  well  known,  stands  at  the  head  of  those 
physiologists  who  have  investigated  the  mechanism  of  animal  dynamics — indeed,  we 
may  almost  say  that  he  has  made  the  subject  his  own.  By  the  originality  of  his  con- 
ceptions, the  ingenuity  of  his  constructions,  the  skill  of  his  analysis,  and  the  persever- 
ance of  his  investigations,  he  has  surpassed  all  others  in  the  power  of  unveiling  the 
complex  and  intricate  movements  of  animated  beings.” — Popular  Science  MoniJrfy. 


XII. 

History  of  the  Conflict  between 

Religion  and  Science. 

By  JOHN  WILLIAM  DRAPER,  M.  D.,  LL.D., 

Author  of  “ The  Intellectual  Development  of  Europe.” 

1 vol.,  i2mo. Price,  $1.75. 

“This  little  1 History’  would  have  been  a valuable  contribution  to  literature  at  any 
<ime,  and  is,  in  fact,  an  admirable  text-book  upon  a subject  that  is  at  present  engross- 
ing the  attention  of  a large  number  of  the  most  serious-minded  people,  and  it  is  no 
small  compliment  to  the  sagacity  of  its  distinguished  author  that  he  has  so  well  gauged 
the  requirements  of  the  times,  and  so  adequately  met  them  by  the  preparation  of  this 
volume.  It  remains  to  be  added  that,  while  the  writer  has  flinched  from  no  responsi- 
bility in  his  statements,  and  has  written  with  entire  fidelity  to  the  demands  of  truth 
and  justice,  there  is  not  a word  in  his  book  that  can  give  offense  to  candid  and  fair- 
minded  readers.” — N.  Y.  Evening  Post. 

“ The  key-note  to  this  volume  is  found  in  the  antagonism  between  the  progressive 
tendencies  of  the  human  mind  and  the  pretensions  of  ecclesiastical  authority,  as  devel- 
oped in  the  history  of  modern  science.  No  previous  wri ter  has  treated  the  subject 
from  this  point  of  view,  and  the  present  monograph  will  be  found  to  possess  no  less 
originality  of  conception  than  vigor  of  reasoning  and  wealth  of  erudition.  . . . The 
method  of  Dr.  Draper,  in  his  treatment  of  the  various  questions  that  come  up  for  dis- 
cussion, is  marked  by  singular  impartiality  as  well  as  consummate  ability.  Through- 
out his  work  he  maintains  the  position  of  an  historian,  not  of  an  advocate.  His  tone  is 
tranquil  and  serene,  as  becomes  the  search  after  truth,  with  no  trace  of  the  impassioned 
ardor  of  controversy.  He  endeavors  so  far  to  identify  himself  with  the  contending 
parties  as  to  gain  a clear  comprehension  of  their  motives,  but,  at  the  same  time,  he 
submits  their  actions  to  the  tests  of  a cool  and  impartial  examination.” — N.  Y.  Tribioie. 

D.  APPLETON  & CO.,  Publishers,  549  & 551  Broadway,  N.  Y. 


A New  Magazine  for  Students  and  Cultivated  Readers. 


THE 

POPULAR  SCIENCE  MONTHLY, 

CONDUCTED  BY 

Professor  E.  L.  YOUMANS. 

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community  calls  for  more  efficient  means  of  diffusing  it.  The  Popular 
Science  Monthly  has  been  started  to  promote  this  object,  and  supplies  a 
want  met  by  no  other  periodical  in  the  United  States. 

It  contains  instructive  and  attractive  articles,  and  abstracts  of  articles, 
original,  selected,  and  illustrated,  from  the  leading  scientific  men  of  differ- 
ent countries,  giving  the  latest  interpretations  of  natural  phenomena,  ex- 
plaining the  applications  of  science  to  the  practical  arts,  and  to  the  opera- 
tions of  domestic  life. 

It  is  designed  to  give  especial  prominence  to  those  branches  of  science 
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of  society  and  government.  How  the  various  subjects  of  current  opmion 
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In  its  literary  character,  this  periodical  aims  to  be  popular,  without  be- 
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It  will  have  contributions  from  Herbert  Spencer,  Professor  Huxley, 
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• ! 


Dale  Due 


L.  B.  Cat.  No.  1 137 

